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THE 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S 



HISTORY OF MAINE; 



FROM ITS EARLIEST DISCOVERY TO THE FINAL 
SETTLEMENT OF ITS BOUNDARIES IN 1843. 



By GEO. J. VARNEY, 

Member of Maine Historical Society. 



A-DA-FTED FOR TJSE IIS" SCHOOLS, 
ILLUSTRATED. 



^■^eii^5ir^?:^i^s=^tiiT~- 




PORTLAND, ME. : ^ 
DRESSER, MoLELLAN & CO., 

1873.,.,, 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by 

GEORGE J. VARNEY, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at "Washington, 



Daily Press Printing House, Portland, Me., 
Wm. M. Marks, Manager. 



To THE Young People op Maine, whose acts will 
form an important part in the future history of our 
country, this record of our beginnings is hopefully dedi- 
cated — with the wish that its lessons and examples may 
stimulate their j^atriotism, and influence them to emu- 
late its noble deeds and copy its worthiest characters. 



PREFACE 



In this little volume I have endeavored to present 
faithfully and clearly the beginnings of our State, what 
manner of life the early residents led, and what notable 
events have marked the progress of its affairs. 

Though the book is devoted wholly to setting forth 
the deeds of the people of Maine, it has not been my 
purpose to foster state above national pride, neither to 
prolong any bitterness toward those whom our fore- 
fathers met in mortal strife ; but, by exhibiting the ex- 
cellent record of the Pine Tree State, to furnish grounds 
of justification for that regard which all would like to 
entertain toward their native region, or the home of their 
adoption. 

I have endeavored so to treat the subject as to make 
the lessons of our brief history useful to the youngest 
readers, without descending to such trivial details or 
trifling manner as would prove unj^leasant to those more 
mature. The proj^er limits of the volume would not 
admit so much fulness of incident as might be desired 
by some; and in making a selection I have preferred 
such as best illustrate their time and are also closely 
connected with the movement of affairs; and in this 
respect I think my work will be sustained by those accu- 
rately conversant with our historical records. As the 
nature of this history does not require it, I have avoided 
burdening its pages with references to authorities. In 



PEEFACE. VII 

regard to dates, new style exclusively has been used, as 
avoiding all confusion. 

For those desiring a more complete record of early 
times, I am happy to recommend the "Beginnings of 
New England," by R. K. Sewell, Esq., of Wiscasset, to- 
gether with those learned and exhaustive volumes of 
the "Documentary History of Maine," by Rev. Leonard 
Woods, D. D., L. L. D. 

My thanks are due for courtesies and valuable aid, to 
Reverend Professor A. S. Packard, D. D., the accom- 
plished librarian of the Maine Historical Society, as well 
as to its late president, the lamented Judge Bourne ; also, 
to Hon. J. W. North, the historian and biographer of 
Augusta, and to J. G. Elder, Esq., of the Lewiston public 
library. 

It would be unjust to close without acknowledging 
that this volume has proceeded from a suggestion of the 
desirableness of such a work, by Hon. Nelson Dingley, 
Jr. — a gentleman widely known in connection with the 
educational interests of this State. 

At the suggestion of friends long familiar with schools 
I have added a few questions at the close of each chap- 
ter, giving the work a special adaptation for use as a 
text book. Where it is not deemed best to make the 
history a subject of formal recitation, it may be used for 
reading lessons — when the questions will be found useful 
in fixing the essential points of the narrative upon the 
mind of the pupil. 

With these remarks I leave the book in the hands of 
a generous public, hoping that my efforts will meet 
with a kind approval. 

Brunswick, Me., Nov. 15th, 1873. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
THE COAST EXPLORED. 
Cabot's Discovery. Visits of the Northmen, French, Spanish and 
English. Gosnold on the coast of Maine. Pring's voyage. 
Fox Islands. Pring trades with the natives. Weymouth dis- 
covers Monhegan. Crystal Hills. The garden at Pentecost 
Harbor. Sagadahoc or Kennebec. Indian men, women and 
children. Drinking tobacco. Catching savages. The em- 
bassy. A French colony. To Cape Cod and back. Port 
Royal founded. 

CHAPTEE 11. 
THE FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND. 
The North and South Virginia Company. The Popham colony. 
Monhegan. Skidwarroes. The first sermon. Escape of 
Skidwarroes. The vessels at Sagadahoc. Description of 
Sabino. The colonists disembark. Building a village. 
The first English vessel. Explorations. The Bashaba. 
Indians at the x>lantation. Indian opinion of the Eng- 
lishman's religion. The trick with the cannon. The store- 
house blown up. Death of Popham. Departure of the 
colonists. 

CHAPTER in. 
EARLY EVENTS ON THE COAST OF MAINE. 
The Jesuit colony at Mt. Desert. Argal destroys* it. Capt. John 
Smith explores Maine. The Bashaba overthrown. Pestilence. 
Gorges' colony at Saco. Rocrof t. Dermer. The French- 
man's prophecy. Samoset and the Pilgrims. Samoset and 
Capt. Levett. 



CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER lY. 

COLONIES AND COLONISTS. 
The New England Charter. Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Laconia. 
The Pilgrims at New Plymouth. Earlier settlements. First 
general government in New England. The Kennebec Patent. 
Puritan trading houses. The Lygonia, or Plough Patent. 
Muscongus grant, or "Waldo Patent. Pemaquid Patent. 
Sheepscot, or the garden of the East. Massachusetts Bay 
Colony. New Scotland ceded to the French. Sir William 
Alexander's right acquired by La Tour. Plunder of English 
trading houses and vessels in Acadie. The first Pirate. 
D'Aulney at Biguyduce. 

CHAPTEE Y. 
POLITICS, PROPERTY, AND CIVIL AFFAIRS. 

Maine divided into four provinces. New Somersetshire. Its gov- 
ernment. Drunkenness. Oppressions by the king. The 
Province of Maine. Rights of the proprietor and of the king. 
Divisions and government of the province. Legal decisions. 
Agricultural products. Manufactures and commerce. City 
of Gorgeaua. The Plough Patent revived. ' Religious free- 
dom. Death of Gorges. 

CHAPTEE YI. 
COUNTIES, CUSTOMS AND CHARACTERS. 

Six governments in Maine. John Alden. Homicide on the Ken- 
nebec. Thomas Purchas. Elasticity of the Massachusetts 
Bay Charter. Gorges' government dissolved. John Bony- 
thon. Western Maine becomes the County of Yorkshire. 
Courts. The militia. Musketeers and pikemen. The boys' 
training. The stocks, pillory, whipping-post, and ducking 
stool. Other penalties. Religious oppression. Rev. John 
Brock. 

CHAPTEE YIL 

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

Fears of war with the Indians. The conquest of Acadia. Sir 



X HISTORY OF MAINE. 

Thomas Temple. Grant to the Duke of York. The king's 
commissioners. County of Cornwall. New Scotland again 
ceded to France. Governor Nichols' warning. The Conquest 
of Maine. Purchase of Gorges' right. The County of 
Cornwall becomes the County of Devonshire. 

CHAPTEH VIII. 

THE INDIANS OF MAINE. 

The Abuakis. Anasagunticooks or Androscoggins. * Canibas. 
Etcchemins. Tarratincs. Openangoes. The Bashaba. Oys- 
ter shell mounds. Cannibals. Personal description of the na- 
tives. Dress. Labors. Wigwams. Hunting. Canoes, 
Bows and Arrows. Hooks, nets and weirs. Food and cook- 
ing. Domestic utensils. Little Indians. Merrymakings. 
Indian belles. AVeddings. Sports. Smoking. Diseases. 
Pow-wows. Religion. Government. Councils. Lan- 
guage. 

CHAPTER IX. 
THE FIRST INDIAN WAR COMMENCES. 
The French fraternize with the Indians. They become Roman 
Catholics. AVrongs of the Indians. They become hostile to 
the English. Decrease in the numbers of the Indians. Pas- 
saconaway. His prophecy. The petition of Rowles. Squan- 
do's child drowned. Squando has revelations from the spirit 
world. King Philip's war. Mo-ho-tiwormet's treaty. The 
Androscoggins plunder the settlement of Thomas Purchas. 
The slaughter of the Wakely family. The captive girl, John 
Bonythou warned. Attack on Phillips' garrison at Saco. The 
battle at Winter Harbor. Attack on Berwick. A noble girl. 
A fast. Death of Lieut. Plaisted. The cannon shot at Ports- 
mouth. Retreat of the savages. Losses. The treaty. Re- 
turn of Elizabeth. 

CHAPTER X. 
FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 

Forebodings of war. Seizure and sale of Indians for slaves. 
Abraham Shurte. Demands of the Indians. Death of King 



C0>'TEXT5. S- 

Philip. Simon, the Yankee- killer. Mr. Brackett's cow. 
Attack on Casco Neck. The massacre at Georgetown. The 
flight of a girl. The surprise of Arrowsic. Escape of Capt. 
Davis. Destruction of the eastern settlements. The Attack 
on Peaks' Island. Waldron's Ruse. The stone house on 
Peaks' Island. Capture of Fryer's crew at Richmond's Island. 
Pluck in Wells. Winter expedition against the Sokokis. 
Mugg's treaty. Captives restored, 3Iugg's treaty a sham. 
Waldron meets the Indians at ilare Point. Ruse of the Tar- 
ratines. The 3Iohawks in Maine. The Indians aroused- 
Their successes. The fight at Black Point. Death of Mugg. 
Savages turn sailors. The fort at Pemaquid rebuilt. The 
war closed. Terms of peace. Losses of the war. 

CHAPTEE XI. 
THE FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
Baron Castine. The Dutch at Castine. Andros' treaty with the 
Indians. Attack on North Yarmouth. Death of Walter 
Gendell. Jamestown at Pemaquid destroj'ed. Abdication of 
James IL and overthrow of Andros. The people's govern- 
ment revived. Indian revenge on Major Waldron. Capt. 
Swaine. 3iIajor Church meets the Indians at Falmouth Neck. 
Berwick destroyed. A flotUla of canoes. Indians camp in 
Falmouth. The surprise on Munjoys HiiL The massacre on 
Falmouth Neck. 

CHAPTEE XII. 
FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTENTED. 
Sir WiUiam Phipps. He builds a vessel at Woolwich. Raises the 
treasure from a Spanish wreck. Takes Acadia from the 
French. Unfortunate expedition against Canada. First pa- 
lmer money. 3Iajor Church routs the Indians on the Andros- 
coggin. The sagamores regain their wives and make peace. 
Settlements destroyed. A vUlage of blockhouses. Wells at- 
tacked by 3Ioxu5. Cape Neddock destroyed. King's exi)edi- 
tion eastward. Fatal attack on York. (Generosity. Persist- 
ent attacks on WeUs. The scout's trick. Bravery of Capt 
Converse. The enemy retire. The torture of a prisoner. 
Phipps appointed gOTemor. Builds a fort at Pemaquid. 



XII HISTORY OF MAINE. 

Church's expedition up the Penobscot. Fight with the Indians 
on the Kennebec. Converse builds a fort at Saco. The In- 
dians afraid of the Mohawks, and mal^e peace with the Eng- 
lisli. Tlie treaty brol^en and Cocheco destroyed. Capt. 
Chubb seizes the bearers of a flag of truce. Chubb surrenders 
the fort at Pemaquid to Iberville. Major Church goes east- 
ward again. IMajor March's skirmish with Indians at Dama- 
riscotta. The war closed. Losses in the war. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
WITCHCRAFT, PIRACIES AND AN INDIAN TREATY. 

The Witchcraft Delusion. Governor Phipps' wife accused. The 
governor's eyes opened. Phipps succeeded by Bellamont as 
governor. Pirates. Bellamont succeeded by Dudley. An- 
other war expected. A new treat}'' with the Indians. Capt. 
Simmo. The Two Brothers. Outrage on Castine, the 
younger. 

CIIAPTEE XIV. 

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
Queen Amie's war commences. Simultaneous attacks on the set- 
tlements. Ruse of the savages at Fort Loyal. The fort be- 
sieged, Capt. Southwick attacks the Indian fleet. Troops of 
Horse. Expedition to Ossipee and Pigwacket. Nineteen men 
shot down. Plunniwell, the Indian killer. Major March at 
Pigwacket. A bounty for Indian scalps. The Mohegans and 
Pequots at Berwick. Col. Church goes eastward again. 
Norridgewock burned. French privateers. Col. Hilton sur- 
prises eighteen savages. Col. March goes against Acadia. 
Exploit of the Indians in Winter Harbor. Acadia conquered 
by Gen. Nicholson. Castine, the younger, guides Major Liv- 
ingston through the wilderness. Col. Walton scouts along 
the coast. The Indians intrude at a wedding. Another treaty. 
Moxus' pretentions. 

CHAPTER XY. 

LOVEWELL'S WAR COISOIENCES. 

Increase of settlements. Indian deeds. English missionaries to the 



CONTENTS. XIII 

Indians. False teaching of the Jesuits. An Indian speech. 
Threats of the Indians against the settlers of Sagadahock. 
Another expedition to Norridgewock. Settlements on Merry- 
meeting Bay destroyed. Another attack on the fort at St. 
George's. Brunswick burned. Night attack on the Indians 
in Topsham. Deering's garrison surprised, and children cap- 
tured. Mohawks on the Kennebec. The Micmacs and St. 
Francis Indians at Arrowsic. Col. Westbrook burns the 
Indian fort near Bangor. Another expedition to Norridge- 
wock. The fight on St, George's River. Death of the brave 
Captain Winslow. 

CHAPTEK XYI. 
THE DESTRUCTION OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 
Final expedition against Norridgewock. Description of the village. 
The engagement. Death of Mogg. Death of Ralle. Ac- 
count of the missionary. An Indian's mistake. A writing. 
The Jesuit's deceptions. Estimate of Ralle's character. In- 
dian Old Point. Burning of the village by the Mohawk. Re- 
sults of the expedition. 

CHAPTER XYII. 
LOVEWELL'S FIGHT. 
Capt. Lovewell at Winnipesaukee. Lovewell starts for the Soko- 
kis. The fort on Ossipee Pond. Pigwacket. Lovewell's 
Pond. An Indian discovered. The packs left on the plain. 
Capt. Lovewell wounded. An ambush, A close fight. 
Lovewell's men retire to the pond. Chaplain Frye. Cham- 
berlain and Paugus. Wyman and Paugus. Indians draw off. 
English retreat. Kies escapes in a canoe. Frye and Far well 
left. Jones reaches Biddeford. Arrival of the men at Ossi- 
pee Pond. Fort foimd deserted. Col. Tyng visits Pigwacket 
and buries the dead. The Pig^^ackets disappear. Capt. 
Heath goes up the Penobscot. Indians want peace. Gov- 
ernor Dummer's treaty. 

CHAPTER XVni. 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. 
The desolation of the wars in Maine. Easier times for the old 



XIV HISTORY OF MAINE. 

settlements. About immigrants. The king's woods. Masts 
and knees for the royal navy. The king's surveyors and the 
lumbermen. The king gives Col. Dunbar the province of 
Sagadahock. The Scotch-Irish. Lutherans. Dunbar and 
his friends throw Gov, Belcher out of office. Whitefield, the 
evangelist, visits Maine. Anecdote of Whitefield and Ben 
Franklin. The eccentric Mr. Moody. Puritan ministers. 
The "Puritans" become "Congregationalists." Form of wor- 
ship. Meeting houses. IIow the congregation kept warm. 
Ministers. Boys and girls at meeting. The tythingman. 
Singing. Sunday regulations. Schools. Social amusements. 
IIow houses were built. Pork and pumpkins. Furniture. 
Spinning wheels. Hand looms. Dress. Social customs. 
Heir looms. Noble names. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

KING GEORGE'S WAR. 

Louisburg, the Dunkirk and Gibraltar of America. An expedition 
against it. Sir William Pepperell. Whitefield gives a motto 
for the expedition. Col. Vaughn burns up the wine and 
brandy. The English build batteries in the dark. Tyng cap- 
tures a French vessel. A flag of truce. Dismay of the 
French. A grand discharge of artillery. The city surren- 
dered. Strong fortifications. Prizes. British claim all. 
Rejoicings. The Tarratines. Mischief. The young warriors 
pant for glory. Fort at St. George's assaulted. North Yar- 
mouth surprised. The savages at Flying Point. Outrages at 
other places. Bounties for Indian scalps. 

CHAPTER XX. 
KING GEORGE'S WAR CONTINUED. 
Attack upon Gorham. Massacre of Bryants' family. Destruction 
of Waldoboro. Dogs. French attempt to capture Louisburg. 
The fleet scattered. Fever. Death of D'Anville. Suicide of 
the vice-admiral. Western Maine swarms with Indians. An- 
other French fleet. Attacks on Pemaquid and St. George's. 
Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. Indians talk peace. The St. Francis 
Indians on a raid. Wiscasset attacked. A canoe upset. In- 



CONTENTS. XV 

dian depredations westward. A hunter shoots a chief. 
French forces. The Indians make peace. 

CHAPTER XXI. 
THE SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN WAR. 

French outrages. George Washington. French fortresses ex- 
tended. English forts. French offer bounties for English 
scalps. Braddock's defeat. Siege of Beau-sejour. Acadians 
removed from Nova Scotia. Capt. Cargill kills friendly In- 
dians. Manchester kills Poland, an Indian chief. Distresses. 
Gen. Wolfe. Indian outrages cease. Fort Pownal. Death 
of General Waldo. Successes. The swinging scalps at St. 
Francis. Rejoicings. The French nation atones by Lafayette. 

CHAPTER XXn. 
THE DAWN OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Peaceful times. Maine all border. The heroism of the settlers of 
Maine. Two new counties. Gov. Pownal. New towns east 
of the Penobscot. Drought and fire. British oppressions. 
Taxation without representation. A new tax, Boston Mas- 
sacre . First act of rebellion in Maine. The Boston "Tea 
Party." Gen. Gage governor of Maine. First American 
government. 

CHAPTER XXm. 

EARLY EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Captain Mowatt dismantles Fort Pownal. English missionaries. 
Indians true to America. Battle of Lexington. Companies 
set out from York and Falmouth. Col. Scammon's regiment. 
The affair at King's dock in Bath. Captain Mowatt captured. 
Battle of Bunker Hill. Capture of the Margrauetto. Cap- 
. ture of the Diligent. Mowatt burns Falmouth. A war ves- 
sel frightened off. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION AND THE WAR IN THE EAST. 
Arnold's force ascends the Kennebec. Bombazec Rips. Dead 



XVI HISTOEY OF MAINE. 

River Carry. Col. Enos returns. The Chandiere. Flagstaff 
Plantation. Mt. Bigelow. The accident. Bear broth. The 
troops meet cattle. Defeat. Post offices. Maine a grand 
military division. Independence declared. Colonel Eddy's 
expedition. Colonel John Allan. His boys held as hostages. 
British attack on Machias. Surrender of Burgoyne. 

CHAPTER XXY. 
EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION ON SEA AND LAND. 

Terrible fires. Hon. John Adams and Commodore Tucker. Three 
British ships pursue the Boston. Tacker saves "that egg." 
Capture of the Thorn, A French fleet. Maine made a Dis- 
trict. British at Biguyduce, or Castine. Americans besiege 
Castine. The embargo. The British on the Kennebec. 
Capture of Gen. Wadsworth. His escape. More troops. 
Capture of Cornwallis. More raids of the Canada Indians. 
The treaty. Boundaries. Independence acknowledged. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 

Customs and dress of the wealthy. Of farmers and mechanics. 
Of their waves and daughters. Indian dress, new style. New 
settlers. Big pine trees. First American flag. Exports regu- 
lated. First newspaper. The Bingham Purchase. Germans, 
Scotch and Irish. Commercial districts. Governor Hancock. 
Bowdoin college. 

CHAPTER XXYH. 

THE MALTA WAR. 

The Muscongus Patent. Major Gen. Knox. Lucy, his wife. The 
old patents in new hands. Squatters. Murder of Chadwick. 
Augusta invaded. The trial. 

CHAPTER, xxyni. 

THE WAR OF 1813. 
Impressment of seamen. Little Belt. Commerce of Maine. Com. 
Preble. Battle of the Enterprise and Boxer. Other suc- 
cesses. Increase of manufacturers. The British at Eastport. 



CONTENTS. XVII 

The treasury notes. The Drovers. Com. Tucker captures 
the Crown. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
THE BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT. 

Castine captured by the British. Preparations for defense at Hamp- 
den. The engagement and retreat. Leading citizens impris- 
oned. A bond and other exactions. The enemy at Bangor. 
Robbery of stores. The town threatened by fire. Saved by a 
bond. Flames in the night. Hampden rifled. Alarm on the 
Kennebec. The militia at Wiscasset. They march to harass 
the enemy. A part of Maine declared territory of Great 
Britam. Expedition against Machias. Capture of a party of 
the enemy. Commerce on the Penobscot. Treaty at Ghent. 
The British evacuate Maine. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

THE SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS. 

Results of the war upon society. How the evil was met. Depres- 
sion of manufactures. The Ohio fever. Affairs improve. 
Separation voted. Slavery delays the admission of Maine to 
the Union. Maine the twenty-second State. Gov. King. 
Acts of first Legislature. Waterville College. Maine Wes- 
leyan Seminary. Religious and other societies. Statistics of 
Maine. No carriages. How people traveled. Mail coaches 
introduced. Steamboats arrive. Lafayette's visit. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
MEN AND AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION. 

Governors Parris, Lincoln, Hunton and Smith. Northern bound- 
ary of Maine. King of the Netherlands award. Removal 
of the Capital. The State House. Governor Dunlap. Mad- 
awaska settlements. Maine census officer arrested by the 
British. Claims of Maine territory by the British. Appear- 
ances of war. Disturbances in Canada. Burning of the Car- 
oline. Military road through Aroostook. Conflict with a slave 
state. Governor Kent. Representative Cilley falls in a duel. 
Scientific survey. 



XYI HISTOEY OF MAIXE. 

Eiver Carry. Col. Enos returns. The Chaudiere. Flagstaff 
Plantation. Mt. Bigelow. The accident. Bear broth. The 
troops meet cattle. Defeat. Post offices. Maine a grand 
military division. Independence declared. Colonel Eddy's 
expedition. Colonel John Allan. His boys held as hostages. 
British attack on Machias. Surrender of Burgoyne. 

CHAPTER XXY. 

EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION ON SEA AND LAND. 

Terrible fires. Hon. John Adams and Commodore Tucker. Three 
British ships pursue the Boston. Tucker saves "that egg." 
Capture of the Thorn. A French fleet. Maine made a Dis- 
trict. British at Bigu3^duce, or Castine. Americans besiege 
Castine. The embargo. The British on the Kennebec. 
Capture of Gen. Wadsworth. His escape. More troops. 
Capture of Cornwallis. More raids of the Canada Indians. 
The treaty. Boundaries. Independence acknowledged. 

CHAPTEE XXYI. 
AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 
Customs and dress of the wealthy. Of farmers and mechanics. 
Of their wives and daughters. Indian dress, new style. New 
settlers. Big pine trees. First American flag. Exports regu- 
lated. First newspaper. The Bingham Purchase. Germans, 
Scotch and Irish. Commercial districts. Governor Hancock. 
Bowdoin college. 

CHAPTER XXYH. 

THE ]\IALTA WAR. 

The Muscongus Patent. Major Gen. Knox. Lucy, his wife. The 
old patents in new hands. Squatters. Murder of Chad wick. 
Augusta invaded. The trial. 

CHAPTER. XXYin. 

THE WAR OF 1812. 
Impressment of seamen. Little Belt. Commerce of Maine. Com. 
Preble. Battle of the Enterprise and Boxer. Other suc- 
cesses. Increase of manufacturers. The British at Eastport. 



CONTENTS. XVII 

The treasury notes. The Drovers. Com. Tucker captures 
the Crown. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT. 

Ca&tine captured by the British. Preparations for defense at Hamp- 
den. The engagement and retreat. Leading citizens impris- 
oned. A bond and other exactions. The enemy at Bangor. 
Robbery of stores. The town threatened by fire. Saved by a 
bond. Flames in the night. Hampden rifled. Alarm on the 
Kennebec. The militia at Wiscasset. They march to harass 
the enemy. A part of Maine declared territory of Great 
Britain. Expedition against Machias. Capture of a party of 
the enemy. Commerce on the Penobscot. Treaty at Ghent. 
The British evacuate Maine. 

CHAPTER XXX. 
THE SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS. 

Results of the war upon society. How the evil was met. Depres- 
sion Ox manufactures. The Ohio fever. Affairs improve. 
Separation voted. Slavery delays the admission of Maine to 
the Union. Maine the twenty-second State. Gov. King. 
Acts of first Legislature. Waterville College. Maine Wes- 
leyan Seminary. Religious and other societies. Statistics of 
Maine. No carriages. How people traveled. Mail coaches 
introduced. Steamboats arrive. Lafayette's visit. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
MEN AND AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION. 
Governors Parris, Lincoln, Hunton and Smith. Northern bound- 
ary of Maine. King of the Netherlands award. Removal 
of the Capital. The State House. Governor Dunlap. Mad- 
awaska settlements. Maine census oflicer arrested by the 
British. Claims of Maine territory by the British. Appear- 
ances of war. Disturbances in Canada. Burning of the Car- 
oline. Military road through Aroostook. Conflict with a slave 
state. Governor Kent. Representative Cilley faUs in a duel. 
Scientific survey. 



XYIII HISTORY OF MAINE. 

CHAPTEE XXXII. 

THE AROOSTOOK WAR, AND FINAL SETTLEMENT 
OF BOUNDARIES. 

The British trespass on our timber lands. Two hiindred men sent 
to eject them. Capture of the land agent. Sheriff Strick- 
land's ride. Sir John Harvey announces that possession will 
be retained by force. The eastern militia ordered out. A 
draft ordered. Action of Congress. General Scott arrives. 
Capture of the British land warden. Gen. Scott opens ne- 
gotiations. Troops dismissed. The Great Pacificator. The 
Webster and Ashburton treaty. Gov. Fairfield. Important 
measures. The Washingtonians. Conclusion. 



CHAPTER I. 

1. My young friends will remember that Clmsto- 
plier Columbus made liis famous voyage of discovery 
in 1492. I have never forgotten it myself since learn- 
ing the little rhyme : 

"In fourteen hundred ninety-two, 
Columbus crossed the ocean blue." 

2. On this voyage he discovered islands only, and 
did not reach the great Ave stern continent until his third 
voyage, which was made in 1498. But John Cabot 
and his son, Sebastian, were before him here ; for they 
had sailed along the coast from Newfoundland to 
Albermarle Sound the year previous. They took pos- 
session of the country in the name of the English 
sovereign ; but England soon became so busy with 
affiiirs at home that she made no attempt to settle the 
new country for nearly a hundred years. 

3. Yet I should here tell you of other visits made 
long before this time. There have been certain marks 
found on the rocks of Monhegan Island and at one or 
two points on the mainland, which are thought by 
some to show that the Norwegians, who peopled 
Iceland and Greenland, also visited the coast of Maine 
about the year nine hundred and ninety, and later. It 
is also said that our coast was seen by Yerrazzani, a 
French navigator, in 1524; by Gromez, a Spaniard, in 
1525; and by an Englishman named Rut, in 1527. 
Again in 1556 a Catholic priest named Andre Thevet 
sailed in a French ship along the whole coast ; spend- 
ing several days in Penobscot Bay, where he held 
conferences with the natives. Yet all these belong to 
the ancient period, and nothing came of any of them. 



14 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^02 

4. It was in 1602, the last year of the reign of the 
"Grood Queen Bess," that Bartholemew Gosnold sailed 
along the coast of Maine ; and, though he did not give 
any exact account of his voyage, we know that he 
touched at the Isles of Shoals, and at other points 
northward. He came at last to a long, bending arm 
of land stretching out to sea, where he caught many 
codfish, and therefore called it Caj^e Cod. The next 
year^ just a few days after the death of Queen Eliza- 
beth, Martin Pring started from England wnth two 
vessels, bound on a trading voyage to America. One 
of his vessels was named "Speedwell," and carried 
thirty men and boys ; the other was the "Discoverer," 
carrying only thirteen men and one boy. Early in 
June they sailed into a bay wliich contained many 
islands ; and beyond it was "a higli country full of 
great woods." It was Penobscot Bay. They found 
here good anchorage and plenty of fish. Some of the 
company went ashore at the islands, seeing on one of 
them some silver-gray foxes ; so they gave this group 
the name of Fox Islands, wliich it bears to this day. 
Captain Pring had brought a stock of bright colored 
clothing, with hatchets, knives, kettles, brass and silver 
bracelets, rings, and other cheap and showy orna- 
ments, such as savages hke, in order to trade Avith the 
natives. Not meeting with any of these about the 
Penobscot, he sailed southward, passing through Casco 
Bay, and ascending Saco river six miles. The compa- 
nies were delighted with the many fine groves and 
strange animals they saw, but found no Indians until 
they came to l^arragansett Bay. Here they ex- 
changed their merchandise for furs and sassafras, and 
went back to England with a valuable cargo. 

5. Then Idling James sent out Captain George Wey- 
mouth in the ship Arcliangel ; who, in May, 1605, an- 
chored his vessel on the north side of an island, now 
known to be Monhegan. The long boat was lowered, 
and Captain Weymouth went on shore and took pos- 



1G05 Tjjj, COAST EXPLORED. 15 

session in the name of his sovereign. He named the 
island St. George ; also setting up a cross in token 
that he meant to establish there the Cln*istian religion. 
They found ashes and coals, showing where a fire had 
been only a short, time before ; and they knew by this 
there were human beings near. Close by the fire, too, 
were the shells of eggs — bigger than those of a goose; 
and they saw many sea fowl about the place — some 
of them large enough to have laid the eggs. They 
also caught from the vessel thirty large cod and had- 
dock. A number of small mountains were in view 
from here, while away to the west were the grand 
White Mountains of J^ew Hampshire, which these 
voyagers called the "Crystal Hills." Then, sailing 
tow^ard these hills, they quickly came to a fine haven 
in the mainland, which Captain Weymouth named 
Pentecost Harbor, because they entered it on that 
day of the Christian year. This is supposed by some 
to be Townsend Harbor in Boothbay, though others 
believe it to have been George's Island Harbor, which 
is a httle to the east. Here they staid for several 
days, resting themselves from their long voyage. 
Some planted a garden, and sowed barley and pease ; 
while others explored the rivers, harbors and islands. 
In sixteen days from the planting of their garden some 
of the vegetables had grown to eight inches in height. 
These were the first fruits of English culture on the 
shores of Kew England. 

6. Though Captain Pring found no Indians here, 
Captain Weymouth met with a great number ; and they 
brought many furs to exchange with him for trinkets. 
There was no hair on the face of these Indians, and 
that on their heads was black, coarse and straight. It 
was cut short over the forehead, and the remainder 
tied up in a single mass, which hung over their backs. 
Theu' skin was of a dark copper color, where it was 
not painted ; and the only clothing they wore was a 
short coat about the waist. At one time several 



16 HISTOEY OF MAINE. ^^05 

women and two hoys came down the shore to look at 
the white strangers and their ship. The boys were 
only two or three years old — fat, lively Httle fellows ; 
but all naked except that they wore leathern bnskins 
laced nearly to the knees, and held in place by strings 
running up to a belt about their waists ; and this belt 
was hung full of little round pieces of copper. 

7. One day the natives met the EngHsh, as they came 
ashore, with more than usual politeness, and led them 
to some fires around which many others of the Indians 
sat laughing and -talking, wliile puffs of smoke rose 
from their mouths. Probably these sailors had never 
before seen any one smoke, for tobacco was an Ameri- 
can plant, then but httle known in Europe. The 
English were seated on deer-sldns ; and the pipe, 
made of a lobster's claw, was passed to them ; and they 
sucked the smoke into their mouths just as the dirty 
natives did. Doubtless it made them feel quite sick, 
but they pretended that it was good. They called 
this operation "drinking tobacco." 

8. Xot long after, the EngHsh and Indians grew 
suspicious of each other ; and both parties were quite 
cautious in their intercourse. When Captain Wey- 
mouth was nearly ready to leave the place, two canoes 
came to the ship, with three Indians in each. Two of 
them from one of the canoes chmbed on board, and 
they were immediately thrust below deck. The one 
who had been left in the canoe pretty soon put ashore, 
having heard, probably, the outcries of his imprisoned 
companions. Those in the other canoe did not come 
on board, and a dish of pease was given them where 
they were. They went ashore to eat them ; and when 
these were finished they sent a brisk young fellow 
back with the bowl. So the sailors caught hhn ; and 
then seven or eight of them went in a boat which they 
called the "light horseman," to capture the other 
savages, taking with them another dish of pease, — an 
article of which the natives were very fond. They 



1605 T2J, COAST EXPLORED. 17 

went to tlie fire the savages liad kindled; but the 
one who had been frightened ashore ran away into 
the woods. The other two remained; and when 
well occupied with the viands, they were seized and 
forced down to the shore. It was as much as the 
eight men could do to get them into the boat ; for 
their clothing was not sufficient to hold them, and 
they had to be dragged on board by their topknots. 
This act of Captain Weymouth was no doubt wrong ; 
but it must be remembered that the ideas of personal 
rights in that day were not as clear as ours ; besides, 
he intended to liave them instructed in his language 
and rehgion, which, certainly, would be a benefit to 
them and their brethren, as well as to the Enghsli 
merchants and colonists. 

9. As Captain Weymouth was preparing to sail, 
two other canoes with seven savages came to the ship. 
These were very stylishly fixed up with paint, furs, 
feathers and jewels. Some of their faces were painted 
black, with white eyebrows ; other faces were red, 
with a stripe of blue across the nose, upper hp and 
chin. They had jewels in their ears, and bracelets of 
round bits of bone on their arms. One had a coronet 
of fine stuff like stiff hair colored red, while others 
wore on their heads the skins of birds with the feathers 
on. This was a royal embassy which had come to 
invite the strangers to the court of the Bashaba, or 
King of the Indians. I do not know what Weymouth 
said to them, but he did not want to go ; for, you 
know, he had at that very moment five of the Bas- 
liaba's subjects slmt up in the hold of his vessel. 
When the embassadors left. Captain Weymouth sailed 
away as soon as he could. When he got to England 
he gave three of the Indians to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, 
— of wliom we shall presently learn more. 

10. The French, also, were growing more active on 
the northern coast ; and this, probably, was one reason 
why Weymouth had been sent there. A year before 



18 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^05 

Lis voyage a company liad left France to found a 
colony somewhere in the north. It was led by Siem- 
de Monts, a Huguenot, or French Protestant; while 
his seventy followers were both Huguenots and Catho- 
lics. Their pilot was Samuel Champlain, who had 
already explored the St. Lawrence Kiver in tlie service 
of France. De Monts explored the Bay of Fundy, 
and discovered the St. John's Kiver; but they 
chose for the place of settlement an island at the 
mouth of the St. Croix Hiver, since called St. Croix 
or Neutral Island. Here they built a fort, and wdthin 
it several cabins and a chapel. So much wood was 
used in building, that httle remained on the island ; 
and they were obliged to go to the mainland on the 
w^est for both water and fuel. They suffered dread- 
fully with the scurvy, and before spring half theii* 
number died. As soon as warm weather came, all 
that remained of the colony went again on board the 
vessel, and sailed away westward in search of a more 
suitable place for a plantation. They first visited 
Penobscot Bay, having before heard of the region 
under its Indian name, Noruinbegua. Continuing 
their voyage, they went unconsciously past Pentecost 
Harbor, where, probably, Weymouth's vessel then lay 
at anchor. At Kennebec, De Monts set up a cross 
and claimed the country in the name of the king of 
France. But this was of no effect, as Weymouth had 
already taken possession for the English king; and 
according to the usage of the Christian world, any new 
country belonged to the nation wliich first took pos- 
session in due form. Next, Casco Bay spread its 
smooth waters and pictm'esque islands before the rov- 
ing Frenchmen; but still they sailed on, past rocky 
lieadlands, sparkling rivers and verdant hills, until the 
sandy curves of Cape Cod hemmed them in. At this 
point they encountered savages, with whom they had 
a skirmish. They went no farther, but turned back to 
their starting place ; finding at St. John's another ves- 



1G05 



THE COAST EXPLORED. 19 



sel with forty more colonists. Both ships now went 
across the bay, where they founded a town which they 
called Port Royal. It was on the site of the present 
town of Annapolis. Here, for nearly three years, 
they lived an easy, rolhcking life. They carried on a 
profitable trade wath the natives about them, obtaining 
abundance of corn, venison and furs. But the vessels 
of the Dutch merchants now came along the coast and 
interfered with their trade, and, worse still, the king 
revoked their charter; so, in the spring of 1608, they 
abandoned the country. 

In what year was the continent of America discovered? In 
what year did Gosnold visit the coast of Maine? What islands 
were named by Pring ? What river did he ascend? Who took 
possession of the territory of INIaine in the name of the English 
king ? What name did he give to the White Mountains of New 
Hampshire? What was his object in carrying away Indians? 
What Frenchman was on the coast of Maine at the same time with 
Wej^mouth? Where did De Mont's colony pass the previous 
winter ? 



20 HISTORY OF MAINE. 



1606 



CHAPTER II. 

1. You have now learned of four famous voyages to 
this coast, and that none of them formed any settle- 
ment which was sustained. But when the ships 
returned, their companies showed the many curious 
tilings they had brought, and told such wonderful 
stories about what they had seen, that a great many 
people became interested in the far off country be- 
neath the sunset. So in 1606 a number of noblemen, 
gentlemen and merchants belonging about London 
and Plymouth in England, joined themselves together 
for the purpose of sending out colonies, and of making 
Christians of the heathen natives. This association 
was called the ''North and Soutli Yirginia Company;" 
and King James granted to it all the territory between 
the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth degrees of north lati- 
tude. The London men chose for their portion tlie 
division south of the Hudson River, while those of Ply- 
mouth took the part north of the mouth of that river. 

2. In August of the same year the Plymouth com- 
pany sent out two ships under Thomas Hanham, one of 
the company, to make a settlement at Sagadahoc; but 
one of the vessels was captured by the Spaniards, and 
the other, after a short stay on the coast, returned to 
England. In December the London company sent 
out three ships with planters; and these became the 
founders of Jamestown in Yirginia. In June of the 
next year the Plymouth company again sent out two 
vessels with an hundred and twenty colonists. The 
leader of the expedition was Captain George Popham, 
brother to Lord John Popham, chief justice of Eng- 
land. His ship was named the "Gift of God"; and 
the other, tho "Mary and John," was commanded by 



1607 Tjjj, FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND. 21 

Captain Raleigh Gilbert. On the sixteenth of August 
they landed on an island; finding a cross, by wliich 
they knew it to be the one Captain Weymouth had 
visited, afterward called Monhegan. 

3. On board of the "Mary and John'' was Skid- 
warroes, one of the savages who had been carried 
away by Weymouth two years before. When the 
poor fellow found himself once more so near his home 
he became much excited, and wished to go at once to 
his native place near by on the mainland. ISTear mid- 
night Captain Gilbert manned his boat; and, guided 
by the eager savage, ere dawn they were at Pema- 
quid, now the town of Bristol. They landed in the 
early light of the morning, and approached a village 
of the natives. There was a sudden cry of alarm ; and 
the warriors ran with hastily snatched weapons to 
drive the white men back. At the liead of his braves 
was the chief of the village, Nahanada, — who was 
also one of those carried away by Weymouth, but 
returned the year before by Hanham. As soon as 
Nahanada and Skidwarroes perceived each other, 
they ran together and embraced. Then the brethren 
and fixmily of the restored savage came forward and 
joined in the hearty greetings. Two hours soon 
passed, when Gilbert's party returned to the vessel, 
taking Skidwarroes with them. 

4. The next day was Sunday ; and the companies 
of both ships went ashore on Monhegan; and here, 
beside the cross which Weymouth had planted, was 
preached the first sermon of New England. On 
Monday Captains Popham and Gill^ert, with fifty men, 
went again to Pemaquid. Slddwarroes was with 
them, but Nahanada and his braves appeared dis- 
trustful. The sight of so many armed men made them 
fear that the treachery of Weymouth was to be re- 
peated. Suddenly the savages withdrew into the 
wood, and Skidwarroes with them; where, from be- 
hind the trees, they menaced the white men with their 



22 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^^'^ 

arrows. It was tlie desire of the English to avoid 
bloodshed; so they retired to the boats and rowed 
across to the other side of the harbor, where they 
spent the night. The ships next sailed westward in 
search of the river Sagadahoc, or Kennebec. They 
passed Segiiin (which they called Sutquin) without 
recognizing it, and examined the islands on the north- 
ern shore of Casco Bay. Then a storm arose and 
drove them away to the eastward. When the storm 
was over they again tm'ned westward; and just at 
night the "Gift of God" got into the month of the 
river Sagadahoc; and in the morning she sent her 
boat and helped in the "Mary and John." 

5. They now searched about for a good site for 
their tow^n, and finally chose the peninsula of Sabino, 
so called from Sebenoa, the sagamore of the region. 
This peninsula is part of the present to^vn of Phips- 
burg. It lies on the western side of the Kennebec at 
its mouth, and contains, perhaps, one or two hun- 
dred acres. It is almost an island, having the Ken- 
nebec on the east, the sea on the south, Adldn's Bay 
on the north and west, while a narrow neck on the 
southwest alone connects it with the mainland. Fort 
Popham, a fine fortification of stone, now stands on 
the northeastern extremity, commanding the river; 
on the northern shore are a few small houses ; and on 
the east of the steep woody hill that runs across the 
peninsula from north to south, stands a fine old house 
with a flag staff in front. A httle southward of this 
house, at the foot of a grassy slope, is a beautiful Httle 
sheet' of fresh water ; while, only a few rods away on 
the other side of a bank of sand scantily covered with 
vegetation, beat the surges of old ocean ; and the 
waves have been knoAvn in time of storms to dash 
quite over the narrow bound into the quiet little pond. 

6. On Wednesday, the 29th day of August, 1607, 
the colonists went on shore and ens-ao^ed in a religious 
service, led by Richard Seymour, their chaplain. The 



1G07 r^jiY. FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND. 23 

Plymouth company had given them a sealed package 
containing the laws and a list of officers for the gov-' 
ernment of the colony; and after the service, this was 
opened and read. They found that Captain George 
Popliam was their president, and Captain Raleigh 
Gilbert, admiral. Then they went to work building 
a fort, storehouse and dwellings, and even a vessel. 
Digby, a ship carpenter from London, was the master 
builder. She was called "Yirginia"; and her size 
was thirty tons. Her lirst voyage was made the next 
spring to Virginia, and thence to England. Therefore 
the Kennebec river, which has since sent out so many 
vessels, has tlie honor of producing the first vessel 
built by English hands in America. 

7. While the colonists were erecting their dwelhngs, 
Captahi Gilbert and his crew explored the coast, going 
through Casco Bay quite to Cape Elizabeth. He 
next ascended the river on which the settlement was 
made, where he saw many natives, and visited one of 
then- villages. He ofiered them tobacco in exchange 
for their skins ; but those they brought were so poor 
that he would not purchase them. This made the 
Indians angry; and the English barely got away 
without a serious fight. 

8. By and by some of the Wawennock tribe from 
the eastward visited the plantation, representing that 
the Bashaba, their king, expected all strangers coming 
into his dominions to pay their respects at his court. 
The president sent a deputation to visit him, but it 
was driven back by a storm. When the Bashaba 
learned of this misfortune, he sent his son with a reti- 
nue to visit the president at Sabino. After such 
treatment as these people had received from Wey- 
mouth, this action was a mark of a generous nature. 

9. The Indians were for sometime after this quite 
intimate with the colonists. At one time forty men, 
women and children, being on a visit to the planta- 
tion, sat down to meat •'with the English. They 



24 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^^'^ 

attended worship, also, behaving with great reverence. 
Indeed, they Avere so much impressed with the gov- 
ernment and reh'gion of the Enghsh, that they Avould 
say, "King James is a good king, and his God is a 
good God; but our god, Tanto, is a naughty god." 

iO. Tlie colonists were industrious; and by the time 
the winter came on with its sleet and snow, they had 
finished a storehouse, one large dwelHng, and a num- 
ber of small cottages. They had also completed their 
fort, which they named St. George, in honor of their 
president. But with the winter came trouble. Quar- 
rels arose between them and the natives; and tradition 
tells us of two fatal affrays. Once the planters got 
the Indians to assist in moving one of the cannon in 
the fort; and while they were pulling on a long rope 
directly in range of the gun, it was discharged. 
Though the gun was loaded with powder only, some 
were killed, others knocked over and injured, and the 
remamder badly frightened. 

11. The men, probably, had not intended to do them 
any liarm, but to impress them with a wholesome 
dread of their weapons; yet this action only tended to 
produce the very liostihty they feared. In a quarrel 
Avhich happened a little later, one of the English was 
killed and the others driven out of the fort, leaving 
the Indians in possession. In ransacking the store- 
house, which v/as within the fort, the Indians came 
upon a cask of powder; not being able to make out 
what it was, they scattered it al)out very freely. 
Pretty soon it caught fire, and then there was an 
explosion. I do not know liow many of the Indians 
were killed, but all the others were quite overcome 
Avith terror. They thought the God of the English 
had done it because he v/as angry with tliem for killing 
the white stranger; and they besought the planters to 
forgive them and be their friends. But their peni- 
tence did not last long, and they were soon more hos- 
tile than ever. 



1608 



THE FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND. 25 



12. The explosion had set the storehouse on fire, and 
all the provisions of the colonists and the furs they had 
bought were burned up ; and for the remamder of the 
winter they were obliged to live on fish, a little lean 
game, and even dog meat. The season, too, was a 
terribly cold one ; and their weak, little cabins could 
not kee]> out the doleful ^vinds and biting frosts. 
With all these privations and misfortunes, it is no 
wonder that the men grew low-spirited, and longed to 
be in their native England again. Many became 
sickly ; but the only one who died was their good presi- 
dent, George Popham. "I die content," said he; ^'for 
my name will be always associated with the first 
planting of the English race in the new world. My 
remains will not be neglected away from the home of 
my fathers and my kindred." You see that he did 
not suppose the plantation would be given up; and 
the belief that he had been useful to his country was 
a consolation to the last hours of this aged pioneer. 
Yet the spot of his burial remains unknown to tliis 
day. 

13. The "Mary and John," and probably, the "Gift 
of God," had returned to England in the autumn; but in 
the spring a ship came with supplies. It brought the 
news of the deatli of chief justice Popham, and of Sir 
John, brother of Captain Gilbert. The death of the 
president had left Gilbert the chief in command; but, 
being his brother's heir, he determined to go back to 
England. In these men the colonists believed they 
had lost their best friends, and were altogether dis- ' 
couraged; so some returned to England with Captain 
Gilbert, while others went in the little vessel they had 
built to Jamestown in Yirginia. 

What company sent the first English colonies to America? 
Where was the first colony sent ? In what year was the settlement 
made in Virginia? In what year was the first colony planted in 
Maine ? Who was the leader of this colony ? On what peninsula 



26 mSTORY OF MAINE. l^^'^ 

did they settle ? Where is Sabiuo ? "What did they name their 
fort? AVhat name did they give to the vessel they built? Where 
was the first voyage of this vessel made? What explorations did 
Captain Gilbert make ? What Indians often visited the colonists? 
What happened to their storehouse dm'ing the M'inter? AVhat one 
of their number died during the winter? What ill news did they 
hear in the spring? What effect did these misfortunes have upon 
the colonists? 



1613 EARLY EVENTS ON THE COAST. 27 



CHAPTEK m. 

1. The next colony settled at Mt. Desert Island, 
which was then called St. Savionr. It was sent out in 
1613 by the French Catholics, and consisted of twenty- 
five colonists, together with the Jesuits, Biard and 
Massd, who had come to the coast a few years before. 

2. The Virginia magistrates soon heard of this set- 
tlement, and decided to remove the intruders at once ; 
for Mt. Desert was within the limits of the charter 
which the English king had granted to the l^orth and 
South Virginia Company. Eleven fishing vessels with 
fourteen pieces of cannon and sixty soldiers, under the 
command of Captain Samuel Argal, were sent against 
them. The French had two vessels in the harbor and 
a small fortification on shore; but this attack took 
them by surprise, and the place was easily captured. 

3. Several were wounded in this conflict, but the 
only one killed was a Jesuit named Gilbert Du Thet, 
who fell by a musket ball w^hile in the act of aiming 
a ship's gun against the English. Argal treated his 
prisoners with kindness, giving them t4ie choice to 
retm'n to France by such vessels as they could find, 
or to go with him to Virginia. He also visited and 
captured Port Royal, w^here the French had again 
planted a small colony. 

4. All w^ho have read the history of the United 
States will remember about Captain John Smith and 
Pocahontas. The same Captain Smith came in 1614 to 
the coast of Maine. He had two ships and forty-five 
men, and meant on this or a later voyage to form a settle- 
ment. They touched at Monhegan first, then went to 
Sagadahoc. In this vicinity he built seven boats. 
Some of these were used by his men in fishing, while 



28 niSTOEY OF MAINE. 161* 

with others he explored the coast and rivers. The 
men spent the best part of the fishing season in catch- 
ing whales, and in search of gold and copper mines. 
They fonnd no mines, and the whales were not snch as 
yield much oil; thus a great deal of time was wasted. 
They had one skirmish witli the savages, in which they 
killed several, but came oif themselves without loss. 

5. Late in the summer Smith returned to England 
with a valuable cargo of fish and furs; but the other 
vessel staid behind. Her master was Thomas Hunt. 
Smith indignantly says of him, "He purposely tarried 
behind to prevent me from maldng a plantation, and to 
steal savages." Hunt prowled along the coast as far as 
Cape Cod, capturing natives at several places. Finally 
he sailed away with twenty-seven of them ; and going 
to Malaga, he sold them to the Spaniards for slaves. 

6. The next year Smith started again for the shores 
of Maine; but on the way he was captured by the 
French, and his colonizing schemes broken up. He 
always made good use of his time, however ; and soon 
after his liberation he published a map and a short 
history of the northeastern coast. It was in this work 
that the portion of our country called New England 
first received its name. Smitli had explored the coast 
from Sagadahoc to Cape Cod, finding twenty-five har- 
bors and several large rivers, and visiting forty villages 
of the natives. 

7. How the rough islands, jagged capes, and the 
many bays and snug little havens must have surprised 
him, as he paddled industriously among them ; and how 
pleasing the numerous rivers, with their woody liills 
and grassy intervales ! Yet he did not see the lakes 
and the myriad ponds that held back the water from 
the sea, or the cataracts that throw it down; where, 
in after ^^ears, the ringing saws should cut up the for- 
est for house and ship, or larger mills spin and Aveave 
the wool and the cotton into cloth for the comfort of 
man. 



1^1^ EARLY EVENTS ON THE COAST. 29 

8. The natives of Maine were at this time united in 
a confederation under a chief sachem, or king, called the 
Bashaba. They were divided into three nations ; the 
Sokokis, who lived about the Saco river; the Abna- 
kis, on the Androscoggin, Kennebec, and several 
smaller rivers eastward; and the Etechemins, who 
occupied the country from the Penobscot river to the 
St. John's, in JSTova Scotia. The Bashaba belonged to 
the A¥awennocks, a powerful tribe of the Abnakis, 
who dwelt upon the small rivers on the coast between 
the Kennebec and Penobscot. 

9. Shortly after Captain Smith's visit, the Tarra- 
tines, or Penobscot Indians, who had become very nu- 
merous, rebelled against the Bashaba. They defeated 
the warriors sent to subdue tliem; and, invading the 
Wawennock territory, killed the monarch, Ijurned his 
villages, and nearly destroyed the tribe. Then other 
quarrels ha])pened among them, and many more were 
killed. After the war came a pestilence; and the 
Indians died in great numbers — even whole villages 
being swept away. The disease was so rapid and fatal 
that in some places none were left to bury the dead ; 
and their white bones were long after seen bleaching 
on the ground. The plague was the worst in the win- 
ter of 1616 and 1617; and a company of Englishmen 
spent this very season at the mouth of the Saco river. 

10. They visited the sick, and spent many nights 
Avitli them in their cabins ; yet not one of the English 
liad even so much as a headache. The leader of this 
company was Pichard Vines, who had been educated a 
physician ; and probably it was the cleanly and whole- 
some habits which he enforced among his men, that 
saved them from the disease. Yines was in the employ 
of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and spent the winter on 
this sliore by his request, to try if the climate was too 
severe for English folk to endure. The place was 
named Winter Harbor; and Yines must have been 
much pleased with it, for he soon after made the Saco 
river his permanent residence. 



30 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1<519 

11. Gorges now persuaded the Plymouth company 
to make another attempt at settlement; therefore in 
1618 they sent out a vessel under Edward Rocroft. 
He was to find Captam Thomas Dermer, then at Kew- 
foundland, and proceed with liim to form a plantation. 
He did not meet Dermer, but kept on to Monhegan. 
There he captm-ed a French trading vessel and a large 
quantity of furs; sending the Frenchmen to England 
in his own vessel, which was smallest. His crew soon 
after formed a plot to murder him for the sake of the 
cargo. But he discovered the plot ; and, running into 
Winter Harbor, set the conspirators ashore. Then he 
sailed away to Virginia, where he Avas killed in a quar- 
rel with a planter. Probably Vines and his company 
had gone from AVinter Harbor, or would not allow 
the conspirators to stay with them; for they made 
their way to Monhegan, and spent the winter there. 

12. Next came Captain Dermer, looking for Pocroft. 
He found the Indians very hostile, on account of the 
wickedness of Hunt and others in stealing away their 
people for slaves. Dermer had brought back two of 
Hunt's captives, Samoset and Squanto; and these 
gave him a great deal of assistance in pacifying the 
angry savages. I^ear Cape Cod he found and re- 
deemed a Frenchman, the sole survivor of the crew of 
a French ship which had been wrecked on the coast a 
few years before. The crew had escaped to the shore, 
where the savages prowled about them until they 
Idlled all but three or four. They made prisoners of 
these, sending them about from one tribe to another 
to be tortured for their sport. When the poor men 
reproached them for their babarity, and warned them 
that the wrath of God would come upon them, the 
savages laughed, and said scornfully that they were 
"too many for God." In less than two years after, 
great numbers of them died of the plague. 

13. Among other places. Captain Dermer visited 
Martha's Vineyard; but the natives here, instead of lis- 



1621 EARLY EVENTS ON THE COAST. 31 

toning to terms of peace, made a murderous assault upon 
a boat's crew wliicli went ashore. They were nearly 
all killed; and an Indian had Captain Dermer down, 
and would have cut his head off had not the rescued 
Frenchman come to his aid. Dermer remained on the 
coast until midsummer of 1620 ; and in December the 
Pilgrims came and founded their famous town. 
Though he had made peace w^ith the natives to the 
northward, those about Cape Cod remained hostile, 
waylaying and killing the settlers whenever they 
could. 

14. Just at the close of that first gloomy winter at 
Plymouth, the afflicted pilgrims were one day startled by 
the sight of a stately savage walking from the woods 
toward their cabins. But instead of the war-whoop, 
they heard from his hps, "Welcome, Englishmen ! 
welcome. Englishmen!" Yet they looked fearfully 
about, lest some stealthy followers might fall upon 
them unawares. Bow and arrows were in his hands, 
but he offered no one any harm. It was Samoset, 
native lord of Pemaquid. His captivity had saved 
him from war and pestilence; and he had been re- 
stored to his native shores to find his country desolate 
and his kindred perished. 

15. The pilgrims entertained the chieftain with food 
and lodging. In return he told them about the plague 
wdiicli had carried away the people, and gave them 
much needful information in regard to the country. 
He went away the next morning, but returned a few 
days after, bringing other natives to visit them, 
among whom was the f\xmous Massasoit. 

1 6. When Captain Levett, in 1623, sailed along the 
coast hi search of a place to settle, he met Samoset at 
Pemaquid, and received from him the same generous 
w^elcome. He aided Levett in obtaining furs, and 
introduced his squaw. Levett says, "The next day I 
sailed for Quack, or York, with the king, queen and 
prince, bow and arrows, dog and kitten, in my vessel; 
his noble attendants rowing by us in their canoes." 



32 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^25 

17. Soon after tliis, Samoset sold to one John 
Brown a tract of land at Pemaquid, comprising the 
present towns of Bristol and Damariscotta. The deed 
of the sale was made in 1625, and is the first ever 
given by a native of America. 

18. The noble sachem lived for many years after 
at Pemaqiiid, always remaining the good friend of the 
Enghsh. He was remarkable for his love of truth and 
justice, and his generous confidence in others. 

Who drove the Jesuits from Mt. Desert Island ? In what year 
did Capt. Smith visit the coast of Maine ? How did his men waste 
much time ? How many harbors did Smith explore ? How many 
villages of the natives did he visit ? What name did he give the 
northern country in his histoiy ? Who stole natives of Maine for 
slaves ? What three nations of Indians occupied Maine at this 
time ? What happened among the Indians soon after ? In what 
years did Richard Vines spend a winter at Saco ? Who made 
peace with the Indians on the coast soon after? What noted 
chieftain of Maine met the pilgrims with words of welcome? 
What was the character of Samoset ? 



1630 COLONIES AND COLONISTS. 33 



CHAPTEE IV. 

1. Early in the year 1620 the Plymouth, or North- 
ern branch of the North and South Virginia Company 
gave up its charter. A new company was then 
formed, consisting of forty noblemen, knights, and 
gentlemen. It was described as "The Council estab- 
lished at Plymouth in the County of Devon, for plant- 
ing, ruling and governing New England in America;" 
l)ut it was usually called the New England Company. 
The king granted to it the territory from a little south 
of the Hudson Piver to the Bay of Chaleur on the 
north, and from "sea to sea." Sir Ferdinando Gor- 
ges, who had been president of the old company, was 
made chief agent of the new one. 

2. This gentleman was born in the year 1573, in 
the county of Somerset, in England. Before he was 
thirty years old he had won great honor in the war 
with Spain; and the king, to reward his services, made 
him governor of the fortilied town of Plymouth, in 
the south-western part of England. Among his friends 
were Sir Walter Paleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert ; 
and from these he, no doubt, imbibed that enthusiasm 
for America which made him through a long hfe the 
constant friend of the colonies. 

3. The French, who had two or more colonies on the 
St. Lawrence river, were now attempting settlements 
further southward within the limits of the New Eng- 
land Company's patent. It was plain that this north- 
ern boundary was likely to cause trouble. Gorges, to 
relieve himself of the difficulty, procured for Sir Wil- 
liam Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland, a 
grant of all the territory east of the St. Croix, and 



34 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^^^ 

northward on the line of this river to the St. Lawrence. 
All this region was at that time known as Canada, bnt 
the new proprietor named it Nova Scotia^ or ]N'ew 
Scotland. It was his intention to settle it with Scotch, 
who, it was thought, would prove an effectual barrier 
against the French. 

4. Gorges was constantly on the watch for persons 
desirous of a home in the new world ; and thus he 
came to learn of a number of English families who had 
removed to Leyden in Holland that they might be at 
liberty to worship God in the way which they believed 
to be right. They at first chose the Hudson as the 
place for their plantation ; but, landing on the shores 
of Massachusetts, they concluded to make that their 
residence ; and Gorges obtained for them a grant of 
the place where they had settled. Thus were intro- 
duced to the world the famous Pilgrims of New 
Plymouth. 

5. In its political action the Enghsh government 
always regarded Popham's colony as the initial 
settlement of New England ; though it was not per- 
manently maintained. It is, however, quite certain 
that some points in Maine — as Monhegan, Pemaquid 
and Saco, had been occupied for several years previous 
to the settlement of Plymouth ; but the inhabitants were 
fishermen, and probably few of them remained at any of 
these places throughout the year. I think, therefore, 
that the pilgrims of the Mayflower must, in a social 
sense, be considered the first settlers of New England ; 
for in this colony were found man, woman and child — 
the triple parts of the integer of human life. 

In 1622 the New England Company granted to 
Gorges and Captain Jolm Mason the whole, territory 
between the Merrimac river and the Kennebec. The 
proprietors named this country Laconia. It was 
described as the paradise of tlie North, having a salu- 
brious climate, fine scenery, bays and rivers swarming 
with fish, and forests full of game. 



1623 COLONIES AND COLONISTS. 35 

6. These gorgeous reports brought many good peo- 
ple to our shores ; but there had come, also, many lawless 
adventurers. Complaints sojon reached the proprie- 
tors that persons without right or license were carrying 
away timber, burning the forests, destroying the game 
and catching the fish. Tlie Indians, too, were becom- 
ing enraged by these acts, and because the traders 
cheated them and made them drunken ; and frequent 
bloody quarrels happened between them and the Eng- 
lish. So in 1623 the Kew England Company sent out 
Hobert Gorges, a son of Sir Ferdinando, as governor. 
They also sent an admiral to regulate trade ^nd fishery 
about the coasts, and a minister to oversee rehgious 
affairs. These three were to ap]:»oint civil officers, and 
to sit as judges on all cases wdiicli should arise in the 
province. But Parliament opposed the privileges of 
the company, and the governor was recalled ; the min- 
ister found his office unwelcome; while the fishermen 
were so stubborn that the admkal could do nothing 
with them ; — so in a year or two all had returned to 
England. 

Y. Meantime many people who were oppressed at 
home sought refuge in this country; and the settle- 
ments increased all along the coast. The little band 
of pilgrims had been joined by others of their breth- 
ren, and were profitably engaged in fishing and in 
trade with the Indians ; having a trading liouse on the 
Penobscot, and another at Sagadahoc near the site of 
Popham's fort. In order to favor this persevering 
colony and to aid in spreading Christianity among the 
natives, the New England Company gave them a tract 
of land on the Kennebec, reaching from near Swan 
Island northward fifteen miles from each shore to the 
great bend of the river. In this territory they had 
exclusive rights of trade and fishery, and the legal 
power necessary for the protection of their property. 
Here they erected other trading houses, — one in the 
present town of Ilichmond, and another at Cushnoc, 
now Augusta. 



36 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^27 

8. These houses were stocked with blankets, coats, 
shoes, iron implements, hard bread, and various sorts 
of ornaments and trinkets suited to the fancy of the 
savages. Tliey had also wamjnim^ which served the 
Indians for botli ornament and money. This was a 
kind of bead made by the Indians west of Narragan- 
sett Bay from the inner part of tlie shells of the whelk 
and quahog. It was of two Idnds, — the purple and the 
white; white being valued at a farthing each and the 
purple at two farthings ; but later the value changed. 

Li 1627 some Puritans in England received from the 
New England Company a grant of the land embraced 
between New Plymouth and the Merrimac river. 
These became the Massachusetts Bay Colony; and the 
kino; crave them a charter of their territory with the 
right of government within its limits. In 1029 a divi- 
sion of Laconia was made between Gorges and Mason. 
The latter took the part south of the Piscataquis, 
which lie named New Hampshire; and thus was fixed 
the south-western boundary of the State of Maine. 

9. The next notalde patent was that of Lygonia, issu- 
ed in 1630, and sometimes called the "Plough Patent," 
from the name of the vessel which brought over the 
colonists. The vessel bore this name because the com- 
pany intended to plough the land and raise crops as 
their principal business, instead of trading witli the 
natives and fishing, like the other plantations. Their 
territory extended from the Kennebunk to Poyal's 
river; and they settled near Casco Bay. This 
colony was laughed at a great deal, because it broke 
up within a year; its members scattering among 
other plantations southward. 

10. The same year the territory lying between Mus- 
congusBay andMedomacPiver at the east was granted 
to some persons who had trading houses there. This 
was called the "Muscongus Patent;" but nearly a 
Imndi-ed years later it passed into the possession of the 
Waldo family, and was afterward known as the "Waldo 



1G27 COLONIES AND COLONISTS. 37 

Patent." The ''Pemaquid Patent" was the last grant 
made by the New England Company within tlie limits 
of our State. It was issued in 1631, and comprised 
the territory between the Medomac and Damariscotta 
rivers. West of this was the Sheepscot plantation, 
called the ''Garden of the East," for its fruitfulness ; 
while the settlement at Cape Newagen was, probably, 
the most ancient of all. There was no patent issued 
for the region between the Damariscotta and Kenne- 
bec before the grant to the Duke of York; and the 
settlers held their lands by Indian deeds. Among 
other purchases made of the natives was that of the 
present town of Woolwich, of the sachem Kobin Hood, 
for a hogshead of corn and thirty pumpkins. 

11. In 1625 King Charles, the new English sov- 
ereign, was betrothed to the Princess Henrietta Maria, 
daughter of the French Idng ; and in the marriage treaty 
he ceded to France the whole of New Scotland. This 
territory, you remember, had been given by the ISTew 
England Company to Sir WilHam Alexander, who 
undertook to people it with Scotch. He did not suc- 
ceed in bringing in many settlers, and was now in con- 
stant fear that his province would soon be seized by 
France ; therefore he gladly sold the whole for a small 
sum to M. La Tour, a Huguenot, or French Protest- 
ant, who v/ished to plant a colony there. A condition 
of the sale was that La Tour should hold the country 
subject to the Scottish crown; but he quickly proved 
his dishonesty by secretly procuring from the French 
king a patent of a large tract of the same territory, to 
be held by him as a subject of France. 

12. Thus the whole country eastward of the Penob- 
scot became disputed territory; for Parliament denied 
the king's right to give away territory without its con- 
sent. But France took possession, naming the country 
Acadie; and the French thought themselves safe in 
plundering all the trading houses and vessels of the 
EngUsh which they could find within their hmits. A 



38 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^32 

Frencli fishinor vessel came to the tradiiis: station of 
the New Plymouth colony on the Penobscot, pretend- 
ing that they had put into harbor in distress, and beg- 
ged permission to repair leaks and refresh themselves. 
They were kindly received, and allowed to go about on 
shore as they liked. The villainous crew quickly 
learned that most of the men belonging to the station 
'were absent ; and they immediately seized the swords 
and muskets in the fort, and ordered the keepers to 
surrender on pain of instant death. Then they forced 
them at the point of the sword to carry the merchan- 
dise of the fort on board their vessel. But the spirited 
Pm-itans were not easily dismayed, and they soon after 
stocked their trading house anew, and the very next 
spring opened another at Machias. A year later La 
Tom- himself attacked this one, killing two of the 
men, and carrying the remainder away prisoners to 
Port Eoyal. 

13. Some Enghsh vessels, also, still ventm-ed to trade 
with the Indians along the coast, as before ; and a few 
of them were caught. One belonged to a man named 
Dixy Bull. As the French had taken his cargo but 
left him his vessel, he decided to turn pirate. At this 
time many low, vagabond fellows were prowhng about 
the coast, sometunes hunting and sometimes fishing for 
a subsistence; and from these Bull soon made up a 
numerous crew of desperadoes. He then proceeded 
to rob his own countrymen, taldng their furs, provi- 
sions, arms and ammunition, and sinking their vessels. 
In 1632 he stole into the harbor of Pemaquid, and 
surprised the village. The villagers were at work in 
the fields and woods, and off on the water fisliing ; and 
before they could rally for defense, the pirates had 
laden then- boats with plunder from warehouse and 
dwelhng. But the people made an attack upon them 
as they were embarking, and killed one of the leaders. 
At last the settlements at the westward were aroused; 
and a force was fitted out at Piscataqua to captm-e the 



1633 COLONIES AND COLONISTS. " 39 

freebooters. The little squadron consisted of four 
vessels, and carried fifty men. It cruised three weeks 
in search of the pirates ; but they had become fright- 
ened, and fled. They left behind them a message for 
the authorities, which read in this way : "We now 
proceed southward, — ^never shall hurt any more of 
your countrymen, — rather be sunk than taken. For- 
tune le GardeP 

14. Bull seems to have been more prudent than most 
of his class, for he never allowed his crew to become 
drunken. At the hour when good captains had even- 
ing prayer he would say to his men, "Now we'll have 
a story and a song." But he met with his deserts at 
last. Having gained some riches, he returned to Eng- 
land, where his crimes were found out, and he was 
tried and executed. 

Soon after New Scotland became the property of 
France, that government sent over General Razilla 
as governor ; and his deputy over the region between 
St. Croix and the Penobscot was M. D'Aulney. This 
gentleman made his residence at Biguyduce, (now 
Castine) where he had a fort, mill, and a fine farm. 
When Razilla died D'Aulney claimed to be his suc- 
cessor against M. La Tour, who was the owner of a 
large part of what is now New Brunswick. D'Aul- 
ney was a Catholic, and La Tour was a Huguenot ; 
therefore D'Aulney received the support of French 
ecclesiastics, while La Tour obtained private aid from 
the English. Consequently D'Aulney manifested all 
the hostility toward the English that was consistent 
with his safety. At last he captured La Tour's fort 
at St. John's ; carrying Madame La Tour away to 
his own fort, where he kept her a close prisoner until 
she died. Soon after D'Aulney died also ; and liis 
enemy. La Tour, married his widow, and succeeded to 
his possessions. • 



40 HISTORY OF MAINE. "^^^^ 

What territory did the king grant to the ISTew England Company ? 
To whom did the New England Company grant New Scotland ? 
What points in Maine were inhabited before 1820 ? What name 
was given to the territory of Gorges and Mason ? In what year 
was the first governor sent over? Where did the Plymouth colony 
establish trading houses ? In what year was the division of Laco- 
nia made? What boundary did this division fix? What were 
some of the most notable patents? When was New Scotland 
ceded to France ? What did France call the country ? 



CP AFTER Y. 

1. In 1635 the New England Company was dissolv- 
ed. Its territory was divided into twelve provinces, of 
which fonr were within the present limits of Maine. 
The hrst embraced the region between the St. Croix 
and Penol)scot rivers, and was named the County of 
Canada, and assigned to Sir AVilliam Alexander ; the 
second, lying l)ctween the Penobscot and Kennel)ec, 
was given to the Duke of York ; the third embraced 
the land between the Kennebec and the Androscog- 
gin ; while the fourth extended to the Piscataquis. 
Both the last w^ere given to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, 
and by him named New Somersetshire ; and in 1636 
he sent over his nephew, Wilham Gorges, as governor 
of fliis province. Tliis gentleman chose for assistants 
Itichard Bonython, of Saco, Thomas Cammock and 
Henry Joscelyn, of Black Point in Scarborough, 
Tliomas Purchas, of Pejepscot (Brunswick), Edward 
Godfrey and Thomas Lewis, of the Piscataqua river 
settlements. 

2. The first session of court was held at the house of 
Bicliard Bonython in Saco. An action was tried con- 
cerning a cornfield, and another of debt. Among the 
laws they made, was one relating to "mischievous In- 



1G35 POLITICS AND CIVIL AFFAIRS. 41 

dians," and others in regard to drunkenness, and tlie 
sale of intoxicating liquors. The last prohibited the 
sale of any strong drink except a small quantity just 
after dinner. The settlers, it is said, had fallen into 
the habit of drinking too much ; and this first govern- 
ment of Gorges was wise enough to restrain a practice 
so dangerous to the prosperity of the young State. 

The new country was now found to ailbrd secure 
homes and a comfortable support ; and so many Eng- 
lish were emigrating that King Charles began to be 
alarmed. At one time he detained some emigrant 
vessels in port for several weeks, to the great distress 
of the passengers. He next ordered that no subject 
should leave the realm without taking the oaths of 
allegiance and religious supremacy. As he wished to 
secure to himself some prolit from these New England 
subjects, he ordained that no colonist should entertain 
a stranger or admit any person as a household tenant 
without a license from the crown. 

3. The colonists, especially the Puritans, were rep- 
resented as being rebellious, and unworthy of confi- 
dence ; therefore the king instituted a general govern- 
ment for New England, and appointed Sir Eerdinando 
Gorges as governor. A ship was nearly ready to 
bring him over, when, as the builders were at work 
upon her side, she turned bottom upward. This mis- 
fortune delayed the voyage ; and other diihculties 
succeeded, so that Gorges never visited the country 
for whose settlement he had labored so long. 

His nephew, the governor of New Somersetshire, 
soon returned to England ; and Gorges offered the 
management of liis province to the Puritans, l)ut it w^s 
declined. In 1639 he procured a charter from the 
king making him proprietary lord of the province, 
with full power of government therein. Tins grant 
extended from the Piscataqua river eastward to the 
Kennebec, thence north and west to Dead river and 
Umbagog lake. Tlie name of the territory under the 



42 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^^^ 

new cliarter was clianged to "Maine," in honor of 
tlie Queen, whose patrimonial estate as Princess of 
France, was the French province of Mayne. 

4. By this charter no person had a right to trade, 
hold property, or reside within the province, except by 
permission of the proprietor ; and lie was entitled to a 
Cjuitrent from the settlers of sixpence an acre yearly. 
For the government of his province he chose a deputy 
governor, chancellor, marshal, treasm^er, admiral, mas- 
ter of ordnance, and secretary. These sat each month 
as a court of justice ; and, joined with eight deputies 
elected by the people, they formed a legislative assem- 
bly, which levied the taxes and made laws. 

The fii'st general court for the province of Maine 
was held at Saco in June, 1640. George Burdet, the 
chief man of the Agamenticus plantation, was lined 
forty-five pounds for lewdness, breaking the peace, and 
slanderous speaking ; John Lander was lined two shil- 
lings for "swearing two oaths;" Ivory Puddington 
was fined for being drunk at Mrs. Tyms ; and John 
Smith for running away from his master, was sen- 
tenced to be whipped and sent back. Perhaps Smith 
was an apprentice learning a trade, or he might have 
been sold for a certain tune to pay a debt — possibly 
to pay his passage across the seas ; for they had such 
a custom in those old days. 

5. Yet most of those who now came to Maine 
brought money with them, as well as their furniture and 
the implements of their trade. Many came to till the 
land, and had their stock to buy ; so the domestic ani- 
mals raised by the older settlers brouorht them a hand- 
some price — a good yoke of oxen often selling for fifty 
pounds sterling. Money was scarce, too ; and all 
kinds of grain, with sheep, goats and pigs, were con- 
sidered as good, if not legal, tender. The people had 
to pay in mone}^ or furs tor clothes, which were then 
mostly brought from England ; so after a while it was 
found best to raise flax and wool, from which, with the 



1642 POLITICS AND CIVIL AFFAIRS. 43 

great liancl looms, tliey wove the strong cloth for bed- 
ding and wearing apparel. Until about this time, too, 
all the meal and flour used were brought from Eng- 
land, or ground in the mills at Boston or at Sheepscot ; 
so there v/as a great demand for more mills for grain, 
as well as for cutting lumber. This demand was fur- 
ther increased by the opening of a trade in lumber 
with the West Indies; while the settlers could now 
have molasses, sugar, coifee, spices, and "other tropical 
products, w^hich they had before done mostly without. 

6. All these advantages tended to a rapid increase of 
the settlements ; and Gorges was rejoiced at the pros- 
pect of a rich reward for his years of labor. With the 
eye of hope he saw in his province of Maine a noble 
inheritance for his children and children's children. 
He selected the plantation of Agamenticus for his capi- 
tal; and, in 1642, he made it a city, naming it for 
himself, Gorgeana. It comprised twenty-one square 
miles on the north side of the Mousam river and on 
the sea. The city had a mayor, aldermen, and coun- 
cilmen, together with sargeants, (policemen) whose 
badge was a white rod. Yet Gorgeana never had 
even three hundred inhabitants ; and, ten years later, 
it was changed to the town of York. 

7. But reverses now began to overtake Gorges. 
Emigration fell off, so there were few to take up land or 
to buy cattle of the settlers ; and business became very 
dull. Then the Lygonia, or "Plough Patent," was 
revived, though it really had become void. After the 
failure of the colony it fell into the hands of Sir Alex- 
ander Rigby, wdio set up his own government in the 
territory. Gorges held his province by the king's 
charter ; but Rigby was favored by Parliament, which 
was now bitterly opposed to the king; and though 
Rigby was finally obliged to abandon the claim, he 
obtained the profits of the territory for several years. 
Thus was Gorges robbed of more than half his sea- 
coast. 



44 



HISTORY OF MAINE. 



1G45 






^% 




OLD APPLE TREE AT YORK, PLANTED 1629. 



On the Piscataquis, at the other side of his province, 
the settlers entered into a compact that they would 
not be subject to his government; for, being Puritans, 
thev were unwiUina^ to live under a charter wliich 
required them to be subject to the church of England. 
Yet Gorges never insisted that his people should wor- 
ship in the English form, but allowed freedom of con- 
science to all; and the Pmitans, with the Baptist and 
the Quaker, whom thej persecuted, alike found refuge 
from royalty and from each other in the province of 
Maine. 

8. A civil war now broke out in England ; and 
Gorges, who had received many favors from his sover- 
eign, took his part against Cromwell's party. King 
Charles lost his cause, and Gorges was thrown into 
prison. He was now over seventy years old ; and, 



1647 POLITICS AND CIVIL AFFAIRS. 45 

worn out by misfortune and hardship, he died in 1647, 
soon after his release. 

He had ever been the earnest advocate of settle- 
ments in America, and the constant friend of the colo- 
nists ; and for these reasons he is very properly called 
the "Father of American Colonization." For more 
than forty years he had fostered the settlements on 
our coasts, his chief motives being in his own simple 
but noble words, — "The enlargement of the christian 
faith, the support of justice, and the love of peace." 

Into how many provinces was Maine divided in 1635? Which 
of these were given to Gorges ? What was Gorges' province 
called? Where was the first court held? Who was now ap- 
pointed governor of New England ? Did he ever come to this 
country? What was his province called under the king's charter? 
Where did the settlers obtain clothes, meal and flour ? What did 
they'export to the West Indies? What city did Gorges found for 
his capital ? To what was it afterward changed ? What title has 
sometimes been applied to Gorges ? 



CHAPTEK YI. 

1. At the death of Gorges in 1647 the present terri- 
tory of Maine was under six governments, all entirely 
independent of each other. The whole country east 
of tlie Penobscot was held by the French ;. while west 
of that river was, first, the Muscongus Patent, then 
the Pemaquid, next the Kennebec, then the Lygonia, 
or "Plough Patent," — and, lastly, the remnant of 
Gorges' Province of Maine. So many governments, 
each jealous of the other, caused much disorder in the 
country ; for evil doers in one province or patent took 
refuge in another, and thus, too often, escaped the 
punishment due to their offenses. 



46 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1634 

2. Once a magistrate of Plymoiitli, named John 
Alclen, was arrested in the streets of Boston on the 
charge of mui'dering a man on the Kennebec River. 
John was a Pilgrim boy, one of the company who 
came over in the Mayflower — and the first person, it 
is said, to spring ashore when they landed. He is the 
same John Alden of whom Longfellow tells us in the 
"Courtship of Miles Standish." Perhaps yon will re- 
member that Standish, the Puritan warrior, sent his 
friend John Alden to court the fair Priscilla for him. 
John was then young and ruddy ; and it is no wonder 
that when he plead the cause of the doughty widower, 
the blushing maiden sliould exclaim, "Why don't you 
speak for yourself, John V And no doubt all will 
remember that after a while John did speak for him- 
self; and that Priscilla became his wife, and rode 
home after the wedding on a white bull, which John 
led by a rope. 

3. The Plymouth colony, you know, had the ex- 
elusive right of trade on this river ; and when in 1634: 
a vessel from J^ew Hampshire came tliere to trade, 
this John Alden, who was then in charge of the col- 
ony aflairs in the region, ordered it away. Instead of 
obeying, the captain (whose name was Haskins) 
brought liis vessel still farther up the river ; therefore 
Alden sent some men to cut the ropes by which she 
was moored. They had severed one, when Haskins, 
seizing a musket, swore that if a man of them touched 
the other he would shoot him. The boatmen had too 
much courage to neglect their duty for a mere threat ; 
and one raised his axe to strike, but before it could 
fall the angry captain had shot him dead. A moment 
later Captain Haskins fell in his turn, pierced by a 
bullet from a comrade of the man he had killed. The 
Plymouth folk advocated Alden's cause ; and finally 
the Bay magistrates pronounced the act "justifiable 
homicide." So there was no one punished. 



1652 COUNTIES, CUSTOMS AND CHARACTERS. 47 

4. Tliomas Purclias, who lived at the head of I^ew 
Meadow River in Brunswick, (then Fejepscot) owned 
an extensive tract of land on both sides of the An- 
droscoggin Hiver. He had opened a trading house 
at this point about the year 1625 ; but becoming fear- 
ful of the Indians around him, h&, in 1639, put his 
territory under the goverinTient of Massachusetts for 
protection. 

5. Indeed, this government was so often called 
upon for arbitration and protection, that its chief men 
began to contrive how they might obtain more com- 
plete control of the eastern settlements. On examin- 
ing their charter the magistrates thought that its 
words would allow them to take the source of the 
Merrimac river as the northern extremity of their 
territory, instead of the mouth of that river, which 
had before been considered the limit. So their sur- 
veyors presently found the new boundary to be a 
direct line from the northern part of Winnipesaukee 
Lake to the mouth of the Presumpscot River; and, 
behold, Gorges' province of Maine, the Lygonia Pa- 
tent and Mason's grant of New Hampshh*e were under 
the Puritan charter ! 

6. In 1652 the commissioners appointed by Massa- 
chusetts came into the province of Maine to set up their 
government. A meeting was called in Gorgeana to 
consider the change. The authorities of the province 
w^ere there, headed by Governor Godfre}^; and on the 
other hand sat the commissioners. The governor har- 
rangued the people against submission ; the commis- 
sioners replied, promising that tliere should be no 
interference with religious worship nor with the estates 
of the settlers. When the question was referred to 
the people, to the great astonishment of the governor, 
every vote beside his own was in favor of Massachu- 
setts. 

7. Thus all went smoothly with the Bay colony's pro- 
ject in the western part of the province of Maine; but 



48 niSTORY OF MAINE. 16^2 

when it came to the collection of taxes, there was 
trouble in Lygonia. The foremost to resist the col- 
lecting officers was John Bonython of Saco. He fm*- 
thermore wrote a defiant letter to the General Court, 
denying the right of Massachusetts within the Lygonia 
Patent. He seems in this action only to have stood 
up for the rights of the proprietor of the patent ; yet 
he was declared an outlaw by the Massachusetts mag- 
istrates, and a price set upon his body. But no doubt 
he was a bold, perhaps an unscrupulous man; for 
when he died some person wrote this couplet on liis 
tombstone for an epitaph : — 

"Here lies Bonython, sagamore of Saco ; 
He lived a rogue and died a knave, and went to Hobomoko." 

8. Tlie province of Maine was now made a county of 
Massachusetts under the name of Yorkshire, and sent 
two delegates to the General Court, as the legislature 
of Massachusetts was called. A court was held in the 
county twice a year, alternately at Kittery and York. 
A part of the magistrates were chosen by the General 
Court, and others by the people of the county; and 
besides trying civil and criminal cases^ these were au- 
thorized to appoint three commissioners in each town 
to decide petty cases. 

9. A mihtia was organized the same as in Massa- 
chusetts. Tlie smallest division was the "trainband," 
which consisted of not fewer than fifty-four men nor 
more than two hundred. Its officers were a captain, 
heutenant and ensign, and a sergeant for the pikemen. 
The sergeant was armed with a halberd, — a weapon 
formed by the combination of an axe and spear, and 
set on a long handle. The other officers wore swords 
and pistols ; and the chief officers carried "partisans," 
which are colored rods, indicatmg leadership. The 
soldiers were armed with pikes and muskets. The 
pike, or spear, was a staff about ten feet in length 
with a sharp point of metal; but sometimes, instead 



1652 CUSTOMS, COUNTIES AND CHARACTEES. 49 

of a proper spear head, tliey tied on a stont knife or 
a piece of scytlie. Men of large stature were always 
chosen for pikemen; and there were twice as many 
musketeers as pikemen in a trainband. Some mus- 
kets had matchlocks, but most had the flintlock. Each 
musketeer, at tramings, carried a crotched stick called 
a rest, on which the gun was laid in taldng aim. 

10. In fighting Indians the soldiers must be good 
marksmen ; for generally these foes scattered widely 
apart, or hid behind stumps, stones and trees. Mas- 
sachusetts had already been through one Indian war, 
when her forces destroyed the Pequots ; and she knew 
now how to meet savages. Each soldier wore about 
him a bandoleer, containing httle leather boxes for 
powder and bullets. Some of them wore corselets of 
iron, which covered the breast and stomach; while 
others had their coats thickly padded with cotton to 
protect them from arrows. They must have been 
queer looking soldiers, plated with iron and stuffed 
with cotton, — no two being dressed ahke; yet they 
were men of courage, daring to face the scalping sav- 
age in his forest ambush. But when it really came to 
fighting savages, the pikes, breastplates and stufiing 
w^ere all abandoned ; nothing but guns, hatchets and 
knives or swords were of any service. At first there 
was company training every Satiu'day, but after a few 
months they were less frequent. All males, from 
stout men of forty-five down to beardless boys of six- 
teen, were enrolled in the mihtia; and I have no 
doubt that the boy soldiers enjoyed ''training-day" 
greatly. Yet they had for a long time no music but 
a drum ; neither had they bright colored uniforms, nor 
shining arms to reheve the sombre appearance of the 
ranks. 

11. On training as on other days our brave fore- 
fathers had regard to the Great Being who presides 
over all the aft'airs of men ; and prayer was ofiered at 
the opening of the day's drill and at the close. But 



50 HISTOEY OF MAINE. 16^2 

on training days tliere was also an unusual draft on 
the barrels and butts of AVest India rum and Holland 
gin, wliicli were kept in almost every shop; for the 
law against dealers was not then strictly enforced ; but 
if any became di'unken and quarrelsome, they were 
set in the stocks, where the fit might wear itself harm- 
lessly out. 

12. These instruments were usually ready, and 
nigh at hand. For there were four or five things 
which the good people of those days placed as near 
the center of their settlements as possible ; and these 
were the church, the graveyard, the school-house and 
the stocks. Usually, also, there were a whipping post, 
a pillory and a ducking stool. The last was quite an 
amusing instrument. It consisted of a long plank 
suspended near the middle, and having a chair fas- 
tened on the end overhanging a pool of water. When 
the ofiender was tied in place the light end of the 
plank was let go, and the chair with its occupant 
splashed in the water. 

13. The penalty for a great number of crimes was 
death; for lesser ones there were whipping, cropping 
the ears, and l^randing with a hot iron. There was 
not much imprisonment in those times, for the very 
good reason that criminals did not choose to stay in 
the weak jails. But the people of Maine were not 
the makers of these laws, and they were not here car- 
ried to such extremes as in Massachusetts. 

14. The people of Maine, too, were allowed to vote 
without becoming members of the Puritan church ; 
yet the promise made to them a't their union with 
Massachusetts that there should be entu^e freedom of 
worship, was not fully carried out. The E-ev. Robert 
Jordon, at this time the only Episcopal minister in the 
province, was persecuted for baptizing children and 
per forming other duties belonging to his pastorate ; 
w'lile the Baptists and Friends were fined and whip- 
pjd. Cromwell fevered the Puritans ; but when 
Charles II. came to the throne he at once ordered 



1^^2 CUSTOMS, COUNTIES AND CHARACTERS. 51 

Massacluisetts to cease interfering in religions matters. 
Then all societies again had freedom to observe the 
christian ordinances in the manner which their con- 
sciences approved. 

15. But I must not close the present chapter with- 
out telhng you something about the Rev. John Brock, 
a noted Puritan minister of this period. The Isles of 
Shoals, then a part of Maine, were the scene of his 
labors for many years; and his influence over the isl- 
anders and the fishermen who frequented then* shores 
was very excellent. He had a happy talent in con- 
versation, his sermons were animated, and his faith 
was very remarkable. A fisherman of his parish had 
been wont generously to use his boat in helping the 
inhabitants of other islands in the group to the one on 
which public worship was held ; but one day in a vio- 
lent storm the boat broke away from its fastenings 
and was lost. While the poor man was lamenting it, 
Mr. Brock said to him, "Gro home contented, good 
sir ; I'll mention the matter to the Lord ; — to-morrow 
you may expect to find your boat." This boat had 
been of such service to the poor that the good minis- 
ter felt that its recovery might properly be made the 
subject of prayer ; and, sure enough, the next day the 
boat was brought up on the flukes of an anchor. 
Many other quite interesting things were done by him 
during his ministry at tliis and other places, some of 
which are told us by Hev. Cotton Mather in his 
"Magnaha." 

How many separate governments existed in Maine in 1647 ? 
What incident happened on the Kennebec ? What government 
tried this case ? What proprietor in Maine put himself under the 
protection of Massachusetts ? By Vv^hat means did Massachusetts 
extend her jurisdiction over Maine ? Where did the Massachu- 
setts officers meet with difficulty ? What troublesome person led 
the opposition ? Into what county was the province of Maine 
now made ? What arms did the militia bear ? What was done 
with those who became drunken? What objects were usually to 
be found near the center of a Puritan settlement ? 



52 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^^^ 



CHAPTER YII. 

1. The principal reason why the inhabitants of Maine 
submitted to become a part of Massachusetts, was that 
every one feared a war with the Indians, and thought 
if they yielded readily to the wishes of their powerful 
neighbor they would receive the more assistance from 
her. 

England was at this time at war with Holland ; and 
it was believed that the Dutch were inciting the Indi- 
ans to rise against the English colonies. The Massa- 
chusetts magistrates wrote to the Dutch governor at 
Manhattan about the matter, and he wrote back indig-, 
nantly denying the charge, and regretting that they 
should put any confidence in the statements of the 
natives. Yet the magistrates were not satisfied, and 
apphed to the British government for aid to diive the 
Dutch away. After several months the ships came ; 
and five hundred men were enlisted in the colonies to 
operate with them against Manhattan. Before the ex- 
pedition set out England and Holland had made peace 
mth each other ; and Cromwell, the Lord Protector, 
ordered the forces to take possession of Acadia. This 
w^as really the point of greatest danger from the Indi- 
ans ; for the French had been selling them guns and 
hatchets, and inciting them to hatred towards the 
English. The enterprise was therefore very pleasing 
to the people of Maine. 

2. The first point of attack was Biguyduce, on Pe- 
nobscot Bay; but the place was not defended, and they 
proceeded to La Tour's settlement on the site of the 
present city of St. John, in lN"ew Brunswick. He ap- 
peared quite willing to change masters, if only his 
property might be secure. The governor, Le Borgne, 



1664 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 53 

made some resistance ; but in August Acadia, or New 
Scotland, was again in possession of the English. The 
leaders of this expedition were Major Robert Sedgwick 
and Captain John Leverett ; and Captain Leverett 
was left in charge of the province until Sir Thomas 
Temple was appointed governor. Su* Thomas 
brought in many settlers, and carried on a large busi- 
ness in fish, furs and lumber. It has been said of him 
that he was 'Sis true a gentleman as ever set foot in 
America." He was noted for his humane and gener- 
ous disposition. When Massachusetts was hanging 
Quakers or Friends, who came into her borders preach- 
ing their doctrines, he told the magistrates that if they 
really, as they said, desired "the Quaker's Hves absent 
rather than their deaths present," he would carry them 
av/ay and provide for them at his own expense. 

3. In the year 1664: the king granted to his brother, 
the Duke of York, the country about Hudson 
River, and the territory between the Kennebec and 
St. Croix rivers. The duke was also made viceroy of 
New England, and sent Colonel Nichols over as his 
governor. Gorges' son soon after sent an agent with 
a letter from the king to the Puritan authorities, order- 
ing them to restore the province of Maine to its owner. 
But Massachusetts was unwilling to give up her con- 
trol ; and she kept possession until the next year. At 
that time three commissioners, who had been sent by 
the king to aid Colonel Nichols, came into the county 
of Yorkshire, and, organizing a court and legislative 
body, revived the old province of Gorges. Thus the 
people of Maine had the hard fate of being subject to 
two conflicting governments, and were liable to be 
punished by each for obeying the other. 

When they had settled aitairs in the province of 

Maine, the commisioners went eastward to attend to 

the Duke of York's possession. They called the region 

between the Kennebec and Penobscot the "county of 

• Cornwall," of wliich the Sheepscot plantation was 



54 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1668 

made the shire town, and named New Dartmouth. 
They made Pemaquid (Bristol) their capital, where one 
of them remained until 1665, regulating the affairs of 
the colonies. 

4. Soon after his departure, a war broke out between 
England and France ; and the colonies began to look 
for a conflict with the French and Indians. This 
afforded a good opportunity for Massachusetts to re- 
establish her authority in Yorkshire ; and commission- 
ers were accordingly appointed for tliat purpose. 
AYhen Governor Nichols heard of this at New York, 
he wTote to the Massachusetts magistrates, warning 
them not to meddle with the province of Maine, and 
intimating bloodshed if they persisted. He soon after 
returned to England, and Governor Lovelace succeeded 
]iim. The Puritans vrere not much alarmed by the 
warnings of the retiring governor, and her commis- 
sioners soon after set about their task of chan^ino^ a 
province into a county. They entered Maine with a 
small company of horsemen and footmen in brilliant 
array, and issued their orders for an election of depu- 
ties to the general court. A county court was held by 
them in a meeting house at York. The morning ses- 
sion over, they went to then* chnner. After dinner, 
as they walked unsuspectingly back, the province 
marshal marched through the streets proclaiming with 
as much authority as if he had an aj-my behind him, 
"Observe ye and obey the commands of his majesty's 
justices." Wlien the commissioners came to the meet- 
ing-house, behold, it was full of people, and the jus- 
tices of the province were preparing to hold a court of 
their own ! 

5. "Give place to the commissioners;" cried their 
marshal, as he went l^efore them to the benches Avhere 
the justices sat. 

"You are the authors of an affront we httle expect- 
ed," said the commissioners to the justices, "but your 
com^se will avail you nothing ; you might have called 



1668 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 55 

your meeting elsewhere, and at another time. 
Depend upon this^ we shall not be deterred from exe- 
cuting any part of the delegated trust to which we are 
commissioned." 

Then the people fell to disputing among themselves, 
and for a while confusion reigned supreme ; but the 
province justices at length were able to read the King's 
letter ordering Massachusetts to restore tlie province 
government to Gorges. To meet this, the commis- 
sioners could only urge the new charter boundary 
under which they had at first set up their claim. But 
the justices and their adherents had a prudent regard 
for that troop of "horse and foot", and they finally 
gave way. And thus was effected what has been hu- 
morously termed the "Conquest of Maine," which 
ended the "Commissioners' War." 

A few years later Rigby's claim to Lygonia was 
abandoned, and Gorges' right was purchased by Mas- 
sachusetts ; so that the whole region from the Piscata- 
quis to the Kennebec became rightfully subject to the 
Puritan government, and was all included in the coun- 
ty of Yorkshire. 

6. By an article tacked on to the treaty of Breda in 
1668, the French v/ere again in possession of Acadia, 
with its boundary at the Penobscot, or, possibly, farther 
west. The inhabitants did not relish the prospect of 
becoming French subjects ; so they turned for aid to 
the only government that could protect them — which 
was that of Massachusetts. Under these circumstances 
what could the Bay colony do but examine again her 
very elastic charter, and order a new survey to correct 
the errors of the first ? This was precisely what she 
did; and by it her boundaries were made to include 
the chiefest part of the county of Cornwall. 

In 1773 the Dutch re-captured New York, and Gov- 
ernor Lovelace went home. There was now none of 
the Duke of York's ofiicers in the way ; and the next 
year Cornwall was made a part of Massachusetts, and 
received the name of the county of Devonshire. 



56 HISTORY OF MA^E. 1675 

7. !N"ow for a sliort time, the settlements flom-ished, 
so that in the beginning of the year 1675 there were 
thirteen towns and plantations within the present hmits 
of Maine, while the inhabitants numbered between live 
and six thonsand sonls*. The vessels of the villagers 
bore away ample freights of lumber from the mills, 
furs from the trading houses on the rivers, or loaded 
themselves with fish from the sea ; the fields yielded 
abundantly, and thri^ang herds of cattle were in the 
woody pastures. 

8. Then came the Indian wars; and the scene was 
changed. Several years previous to this time there had 
been war between the eastern Indians and the Mohawks, 
who lived, about the Hudson Hiver, in the State of 
Xew York. A decisive battle was fought in the year 
1669, in wliich the Eastern Indians were beaten. The 
victorious Mohawks pursued their assailants into Maine, 
destrojmig the villages of the Tarratines, and penetrat- 
ing nearly to the St. Croix ; and many generations 
after the Indians pointed out on the shores of one of 
the Passamaquoddy ponds the scene of the final battle. 
But in a lev/ years the tribes had greatly recovered 
from their losses; and, encouraged by their nev/ 
friends, the French, they were eager for war with their 
new foes, the English settlers of Maine. 

What Tvas the cliief reason that Maine so readily submitted to 
Massachusetts ? Who were found to be inciting the Indians against 
the English ? What English ruler ordered the colonial forces to 
take possession of Acadia ? To whom was the territory between 
the Kennebec and St. Croix granted? What did the King s com- 
missioners form in the Dake of York's territory ? When the com- 
missioners were gone what did Massachusetts do ? What has this 
tour of the commissioners been humorously called ? By what 
means did Massachusetts obtain the right of control in the province 
of Maine ? By what treaty did France a^ain obtain possession of 
Acadia? How did Massachusetts obtain conti'ol of the Duke of 
York's settlements ? What county did she make of this new pos- 
session ? 



1675 ,pjjE INDIANS OF MAINE. 57 



CHAPTER YIII. 

1. Before I tell about the wars with the Indians, 
some farther account of these people will, I think, be 
interesting to my readers. The natives of Maine are 
generally called Abnakis, though the name has been 
more especially applied by American writers to those 
dwellino; on the Androscos^o-in and Kennebec rivers. 
This name comes from Aioahhenahghi^ the name ap- 
plied to the Maine Indians by those living west of the 
Hudson River. It signifies our fathers at the sun 
rise. According to their own account, the Indians of 
Maine are all descended from a connnon stock. The 
Sokokis, who dwelt on the Saco River, were oldest ; 
and the Anasagunticooks or Androscoggins, Canibas 
or Kennebeeks, Wawennocks andEtechemins followed 
in order. The last nation was composed of the Tar- 
ratines, or Penobscots, the Openangoes, or "Quoddy" 
Indians, who dwelt on the ponds and rivers emptying 
into Passamaqouddy Bay, and the Marechites, who 
occupied the region of the St. John's River. The 
peninsula of Nova Scotia was inhabited by the Mic- 
macs, who were of a separate origin, and differed 
widely in language and customs. 

2. The word ''Etechemins," in English, is canoe 
men^ and was probably given them because they made 
such long journeys at sea. ^'Openangoes" means lit- 
tle sables, and signifies that they v/ere a very cunning 
people. The Wawennocks were a very brave people, 
and that is what the name means. At the time of 
Captain Smith's visit to the coast, this was the 
superior tribe in Maine ; and their sachem, called 
the Bashaba, was ruler over the tril^es from the St. 
John's River to the Merrimac. The region between 



58 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^''^ 

the Penobscot and Kennebec, occupied by tliem, was 
known as Mavooslien. 

3. The mouths of the small rivers in this vicinity 
were specially noted for the abundance of oysters 
they produced. There are at this day on the banks 
of sheltered coves along our- coasts long mounds 
composed almost wholly of the shells of oysters 
and clams. Those on the Damariscotta Kiver are' 
in some places fifteen feet deep and twenty rods in 
width. Layers of charcoal scattered through the mass 
show where the fires were made ; and among the 'shells 
are found knives, gouges and spear-heads of stone and 
horn, and bits of pottery. Bones and whole skeletons 
of human beings have also been found, but no tradi- 
tion tells us whence they came or why they are buried 
there. The Indians told Popham's colonists frightful 
stories of a nation of cannibals living to the northward, 
who were of great size and had teeth an inch lon^. 
The Jesuits of the early French missions upon the St. 
Lawrence Piver also relate that there was a tribe about 
the mouth of that river who devoured the bodies of 
their enemies. Uncas, chief of the Mohegans, was 
once seen by white men to eat the flesh of his foe ; and 
English captives who escaped from the Indians have told 
of similar barbarities. Tliese facts lead us to conclude 
that at the time of the discovery of this country, many 
of the native tribes sometimes fed on human flesh ; and 
I fear that this must explain the presence of human 
bones in the shell heaps of Damariscotta. Before the 
breaking out of the w^ar between the settlers and the 
Indians in Maine, the Wawennocks had ceased to 
exist as a tribe. A few had joined the Canibas, but 
the larger portion, influenced by the Jesuits, had re- 
moved to the Piver St. Francis, in Canada. 

4. The natives of Maine were taller than the aver- 
age of white men ; and, if no stronger, were usually 
more agile. Their complexion was a copper brown, 
and their black, coarse hair usually hung in a long 



1675 rp2E INDIANS OF MAINE. 59 

mass over their backs, tlioiigli the women's was some- 
times braided, while the men's was more frequently cut 
short over the forehead and the remainder tied in a knot 
at the top or back of the head. They had broad, 
beardless faces, retreating foreheads, prominent cheek 
l3ones, small, ghstening, black eyes, and large white 
teeth. Many of their women were of comely face and 
ligure, and some of them would have been almost 
handsome, had they been cleanly. Yet both women 
and men were generally morose in countenance and 
manner. 

5. In the summer the dress of men and women was 
rarely more than a girdle of leather having a short skirt 
or fringe below the waist, with the addition of moc- 
casins, if they were hunting or traveling. In the win- 
ter the buskms, leggins and mantle of fur formed a 
warmer attire ; but there were some families so poor 
that they were at times obliged to wear hard, furless 
skins, even in the cold weather. They had a way of 
tanning and dressing skins which made them very soft 
and pliable ; one substance used in this process being 
an oil prepared from the brains of animals. 

6. The household work and the cultivation of the 
soil were left almost wholly to the women and children. 
The only labor of this sort which the warriors under- 
took w^as the raising of their tobacco ; and the boys 
were very impatient to become old enough for hunters 
and warriors, as they were then freed from the drudg- 
ery of the wigwams and cornfields. But sometimes 
to save the crop, the whole family took hold together, 
and made quick work with the cornfield. When not 
engaged in war or hunting, the men occupied them- 
selves chiefly in making their bows, arrows, spears, 
knives and other implements. This was really a slow 
and laborious process, as flint and shells were their 
keenest tools. 

7. On war and hunting trips, especially when these 
were short, the squaws were left behind, and the men 



60 HISTOEY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

did their own cooking. Their wigwams at these times 
being t)nly for temporary use, were of small size and of 
the simplest construction. They were generally form- 
ed of straight poles set on the ground in a large circle, 
but coming together at the top, and covered with 
broad strips of bark. The cabins in the villages were 
larger, with the top arched by bending the upper parts of 
the poles and binding the overlapping ends together. 
Others were in the form of a rectangle, with tall crotch- 
ed posts along the middle and sides, supporting the 
ridge and eave poles. The largest wigwams of which 
we have any account in Maine were not over forty feet 
in length ; and siwh were occupied by several families. 
Each family had its own fire, and there was sometimes 
a slight division of stakes and bark between. They 
obtained fire by rapidly twirling a dry stick with the 
end in a hollow in another, some light material being 
laid close about it to catch the first spark or tongue of 
flame. There was no fireplace except a hole in the 
ground or a few large stones to support the sticks. 
The smoke flowed and eddied to every part of the 
cabin before it found the opening at the top left for 
its escape. In this smoke along the highest part of 
the room were slender poles, where, in the hmiting 
season, hung strips of flesh cut from the carcases of 
deer, bear and moose, being dried to preserve it for use 
in later moons. 

8. Every winter the hunters went away to the 
streams and ponds at the heads of the rivers to hunt 
deer, moose and beaver ; though smaller parties hunt- 
ed game for food at all seasons and in all directions. 
Poor hunters would rarely kill moose or bear, and 
would secure few even of the smaller animals. But 
my readers will remember that the Indians had no 
guns or other weapons of metal, until the white men 
furnished them, so that, with their weak weapons, much 
skill and prowess w^as necessary. Sometimes a com- 
pany of hunters would join for the capture of a herd 



1G75 THE INDIANS OF MAINE. 61 

of deer. Having surrounded them with fire, they 
posted themselves near the open passages of the forest, 
then started the herd by frightful shouts ; and large 
mimbers of the beautiful animals would be killed as 
they tried to escape from the enclosure. At other 
times the hunter would encase himself in the skin of a 
moose or deer, and steal toward the herd, imitating 
their movements. They also made up large parties 
for duck hunting. The time was chosen in the month 
of August, when the old birds had shed their feathers, 
and the young were of good size, but yet unable to fly. 
The hunters, sweeping the pond in their canoes, drove 
the birds into the creeks and coves at the borders, where 
they were killed by thousands with clubs and paddles. 

9. The ordinary canoe was very light, being form- 
ed of birch bark on a frame work of wood. They 
also, made them of logs, which they burned hollow, 
then smoothed with their stone gouges. These log 
canoes were sometimes long enough to carry forty per- 
sons. They made fish hooks of bone and deer's horn, 
and with the same material they sometimes tipped 
their arrows and spears, though they generally used 
flint or jasper for this purpose. Their knives, axes and 
chisels were also made of some hard stone. They 
made thread, lines, and nets of the bark of trees, of 
strong grass, and of deer sinews. They built weirs of 
great stones and- stakes in the ponds and rivers, in 
which the fish became entangled ; but usually they 
caught them in nets, or with hooks, and speared them 
from their canoes by firelight. 

10. When the sanup (husband) was lazy or a poor 
hunter the family depended mainly on the maize, beans 
and crookneck squashes which the squaw raised. She 
also o'athered the fuel, dressed the o^ame and cooked 
tlie food. This was first served to the sanup, and 
other grown up males ; and when these had eaten, the 
squaw might satisfy her own hunger and that of the 



62 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^"^^ 

children. "When venison was plenty, and corn in the 
milk, the Indians fared sumptuously. The corn they 
roasted on tlie ear, or, boiling it with new beans, made 
the dish called succotash. The dry corn was parched 
and pounded into a coarse meal, which they called 
noke/iike. Then there was samjo^ which was corn hulled 
in boiling lye ; and hominy^ Avliich was corn broken 
and boiled. The season of berries afforded them a 
dehcious relish, and they laid up great stores of nuts ; 
and sometimes in the spring they were obliged by 
scarcity of food to dig groundnuts, which they roasted 
in the ashes. Maple s}a*up they could make only in 
small quantities until the white men came and brought 
them kettles; their boihng before this time being done 
chiefly in wooden troughs, by dropping in hot stones. 
JSTeither did they know how to make bread of their 
corn until taught by Eui'opeans. Their food was eaten 
from the troughs in which it was cooked, or from 
wooden bowls. They had, too, a rude sort of earthern 
ware, but it appears to have been quite soft and frag- 
ile. ISTeither chair nor table was found in their cabins, 
and they sat or lay on mats and skins on the bare 
ground, or on a low platform of bark, or of hemlock 
boughs about the sides of the cabin. 

11. Here the little Indians, dirty and fat, rolled 
and ran about, while the small pappoose cooed and 
cried on its cradle of bark. At sunset the maidens 
went forth to dance on the green, clad in their choicest 
garments, that they might attract the eyes of the bold 
young warriors. Perhaps the daughter of the chief 
was with them, the green crest of the heron contrast- 
ing in her black hair with the scarlet feathers of the 
tanager,her armlets and leggins of soft deerskin mark- 
ed with bright dyes, her moccasins gay with porcupine 
quills, and her skirt bright with embroidered threads ; 
while strings of the white teeth of the sable and otter 
gleamed upon her dusky bosom. 



1675 THE INDIANS OF MAINE. 63 

12. Yery often indeed a yonng brave became enam- 
ored of a comely maiden. When this happened he 
told his parents, who then held a talk about it with 
her parents. If her parents proved favorable, he then 
sent her a present, — a deer, a beautiful bird, fm-s or 
beads. Lest she should be unwilling when asked to 
live in his wigwam, he must now pay other attentions. 
So in the shades of the evening he took his station near 
her cabin, and did his best to charm her listening ear 
by his singing, or the rude music of his fife ; or, if he 
was not musical, lie must please her at the merry mak- 
ings of the 3^oung by his wit or feats of strength and 
agility. When she accepted him as her sanup (hus- 
band) he made more presents ; and then the desired 
guests were invited to the wigwam of her parents. 
Then followed feasts and dances for two or three nights, 
the young couple keeping beside each other until the 
frolics w^ere over. Then the savage bridegroom led 
home his bride ; who thenceforth devoted herself to 
preparing his food, making his clothes and keeping his 
wigwam fire alive. 

13. Foot-races, wrestling, quoits, ball playing, and 
a sort of draughts were frequent amusements; and 
they were much addicted to gambling by every possi- 
ble means. The Indians were much given to smok- 
ing, also ; and the offer of a pipe of tobacco was a 
token of hospitality and peace. At all feasts the 
guest must eat all that might be put in his bowl, no 
matter how many times it was filled or how unlike it 
lie felt ; otherwise he would give offense to his host. 
So many a poor Indian often went back to his wig- 
wam with a pain in his stomach. 

14. Many people suppose the Indians to have been 
very healthy ; but this is a mistake. The Indian had 
fewer diseases than the white man, but these were more 
generally fatal. They doctored chiefly with sweating, 
astringents, salves and washes. They also had vegeta- 
ble teas for ordinary kinds of sickness. But their 



64 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^^^^ 

knowledge of medicine was very limited ; and any in- 
telligent country housewife of the present day far sur- 
passes them in skill. Yet, being natives of the country, 
they were able to instruct the settlers in the uses of 
numerous plants. If a savage was very ill the "pow- 
wow" was called upon. Tiiis was the Indian medicine- 
man, or physician. His method of treatment was very 
mysterious to common Indians, and was supposed to 
have supernatm-al power. Drums were beaten, he 
made strange gestures, uttered wild cries, — sometimes 
over the patient, at others, shut up in a wigwam alone. 
He also carried at his waist a small bag containing 
bones, sticks and stones, which were thought to have 
virtue as charms against evil spirits, diseases and mis- 
fortunes. 

15. The Abnakis believed in a good spirit, Tan- 
twni^ or Tanto ; and in an evil spirit, which they call- 
ed Mqjahonclo ; but in general these were confused in 
one, and called by the name of the good spirit. Ilocko- 
onock was another word used by some Indians, which 
the settlers took to signify the devil. At every new 
moon they worshipped the evil spirit for fear, I)ecause 
they beheved he had power to kill them, and to send 
storm, pestilence, drought and famine. 

16. Sometimes certain old men in each tribe, who 
kept in mind their treaties and traditions, were ap- 
pointed to teach them to the young. Beside the chiefs 
who were war leaders, there were others who presided 
over the village and regulated petty matters, somewhat 
like our police justices. Both these were generally 
called sagamores. Over all was the sachem^ who was 
chosen for his wisdom ; though, usually, he was the son 
of the sachem or of a chief. Yet his authority was 
not absolute, all important matters being decided in 
council. These were composed of the chiefs and old 
men ; and, sometimes, the aged squaws were present 
also. There was perfect order on these occasions ; 
when one was speaking all others kept silent, and even 



1675 THE INDIANS OF MAINE. 65 

after lie liad ceased he was allowed several minutes in 
which to recollect anything he might have omitted with- 
out intention. It w^as considered very unmannerly to 
interrupt another, even in ordinary conversation. 
Thus we see that in some respects these ignorant and 
cruel savages set us a good example. 

17. The language of the Abnakis is easy of utter- 
ance, and quite smooth and agreeable to the ear ; but 
its words are few and unfitted for nice distinctions. 
For instance, in the Tarratine dialect thou or you is 
"keah," but ''keah-olet-haut-tamoria" means no more 
than thy will ; and their word for to-day consists of 
eight syllables, and many other ideas are equally diffi- 
cult of expression. 

Names of places are generally descriptive, as 
Mattaioamkeag, from nnatta^ much, — ioam2')a, white, 
or clear, — Jceag^ or kik, earth ; and AnasagunticooJc 
(tribe) — properly, A masacontecook^ — from namaous, 
fish, — konte, stream, — cook from kik^ place ; meaning, 
The region of the fish river. For heaven they use 
the word, spumkeag^ i. e., above the earth. ^'Metun- 
gus" is father, a inan is "sanumbee,'' and hoy is 
"skeenooses." If a Tarratine should inquire after your 
health he would probably say, Pah-que-num-se-eld. 

18. Their dialects were constantly changing, for 
they had no written characters to j^reserve the form of 
their words ; so that when modern natives have been 
asked the meaning of some phrase long ago recorded 
l.)y the English or French they have been unable to 
give it, but yet recollected the words as "old Inthan." 
Still they very generally conveyed information by 
means of rude drawings, often leaving tliese records 
on trees and pieces of bark at points visited by them ; 
and these were readily understood by others of the 
tribe, avIio came after. A rock at the sea shore at 
Machiasport furnishes an interesting example of this 
kind of writing ; and it is probably the most extended 
Indian inscription in New England. 



G6 



HISTORY OF MAINE. 



1G75 




1675 rpjjE INDIANS OF MAINE. 67 

19. In the earliest days of English settlements 
when an Indian signed a treaty, deed or other writing, 
it was nsually by a rnde fignre of some animal, — as a 
deer, beaver, tortoise, snake, heron, hawk, or eagle. 
This was called the totevx and was the family "coat of 
arms" ; and in some tribes they seemed to believe that 
they had descended from these animals. It was often 
the case that a great hunter or warrior received a name 
descriptive of his character or exploits ; therefore we 
may conclude that these "totems" only represented 
some remarkable ancestor, whose distinguishing title 
had become the name of a numerous clan. 

Under what general name are the Indians of Maine classed ? 
What does this name signify ? What were the distinctive names 
of the Indian tribes of Maine ? Where did each dwell? What 
remarkable mounds are found on the Damariscotta River ? What 
became of the Wawennocks ? Of what materials did they make 
their weapons ? What vegetable did they raise ? How did they 
boil their food before they had kettles ? What sports and games 
had the Indians ? What is said of the diseases of the Indians ? 
By what means did their pow-wows pretend to cure diseases? 
Did the Indians believe in good and evil spirits ? What were the 
titles of their chiefs ? Which was superior in authority ? By 
what means were important matters decided ? What was their 
practice in speaking and conversation ? Did they have any letters or 
written words ? By what means did they sometimes convey infor- 
mation? What are "Totems"? 



68 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1675 



CHAPTER IX. 

1. I have now given you an account of the Indians 
as they were when the English first came to the coun- 
try; but from that time their habits and customs be- 
gan to change. The traders soon supplied them with 
domestic utensils, cloths and guns; so that they were 
able to obtain game and cook their food with more 
ease, and to dress themselves more comfortably. The 
Erench mingled with the natives like brothers; and 
some of them, with their usual easy habit, even took 
Indian women for their wives. Yery soon, French 
Jesuits were in all their villages ; and before the year 
1720 they had nearly all become Roman Catholics. 
Therefore, in any war that arose between the Enghsh 
and tlie Erench, the Indians, if they took any part, 
were sure to be on the side of the Erench. Neither 
did the Jesuits confine themselves to the rehgious 
instruction of the natives, but were the ever willing 
agents of the Erench government to incite the In- 
dians to hostility against the English settlers. 

2. The authorities of the colonies were quite aware 
of their danger, and made prudent laws to restrain the 
settlers and natives from wronging each other. None 
were allowed to settle or to hunt and fish upon the 
territory of the natives unless the right was first ob- 
tained of them ; and the sale of intoxicating hquors 
was forbidden, according to the wish of the chiefs. 
Yet the English made crafty bargains for their land, 
obtaining deeds of extensive tracts before the ignorant 
savages understood fully the eflect of such writings. 
Often, too, the traders would sell them rum ; for this 
yielded a large profit, and they could also make better 
bar£:ains for furs when their owners were a httle in 



ICGO rpjjE FIRST INDIAN WAR COMMENCES. 69 

drinlv. The natives, at long intervals, sometimes 
revenged their wrongs by killing cattle or burning 
buildings; yet the tribes in most cases were quite 
ready to pay the damages when the acts were traced 
to their members. 

3. Doubtless a principal reason for the continued 
peacable conduct of the natives toward the Englisli 
was found in the wars among themselves, and the 
pestilences with which they were often visited. 

In 1614, when Captain Smith visited the coast, 
the native population of Maine must have been nearly 
thirty thousand. In the war wliicih happened soon 
after, the Wawennocks had been almost destroyed, 
and the Tarratines also lost severely. Then the 
plague came, working fearful havoc from Penobscot 
to Cape Cod. Following these were the wars with 
the Mohawk Indians, which raged at intervals for 
above half a century; while the small pox became a 
frequent scourge. From these causes their number 
had fallen before the year 1675 to about twelve thou- 
sand. 

4. Some of the tribes did not at Urst join in the 
hostilities ao;ainst tlie Eno-Hsh. Anions^ these ^^ere the 

o o o 

Penobscot Indians, and all those at the eastward, and 
the Pennacooks in New Hampsliire. Passaconaway, 
a sachem of the Pennacooks, was noted for liis sagac- 
ity and cunning. He made his Indians believe that 
he could restore the ashes of a burnt leaf to their orig- 
inal form, raise a live serpent from the skin of a dead 
one, and change himself into a flame of lire. When 
he became old he called his tribe to a great feast, and 
there made to them his farewell address. "Hearken," 
said he, "to the last words of your father and friend. 
The white men are the sons of the morning. The 
Great Spirit is their father. His sun shines bright 
about them. Never make war with them. Sure as 
you light the fires the breath of Heaven will turn the 
llames upon you, and destroy you. Listen to my ad- 



70 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^70 

vice. It is the last I shall be allowed to give you. 
Remember it and live." 

5. Woimolancet, his son, was now sachem of the 
tribe; and as long as he lived their friendship with 
the English remained unbroken. 

Rowles, the sagamore of the Piscataqua Indians, 
likewise saw that the wdiite men would become the 
masters of the country. lie lived in Berwick on inti- 
mate terms with the settlers. When he became old, 
and could no more go out of his dwelling, he sent to 
the principal men of the town this petition : "Being 
loaded with years, I had expected a visit in my infirmi- 
ties, — especially from those who are now tenants on 
the land of my fathers. Though all these plantations 
are, of right, my children's, I am forced in this age of 
evils humbly to retpicst a few hundred acres of land to 
be marked out for them and recorded as a public act 
in the town books ; so that when I am gone they may 
not be perislung beggars in the pleasant places of their 
birth. For I know a great war will shortly break out 
between the white men and Indians over the whole 
(country. At lirst the Indians will kill many and pre- 
vail ; but after three years they will be great sufferers, 
and linally be rooted out and utterly destroyed." 

6. But Squando, sachem of tlie Sokokis, had never 
been friendly to the English ; and id)out this time an 
incident took place wliich made liini a most bitter 
enemy. His squaw with her little child was crossing 
the Saco Hiver in a canoe, when a party of sailors 
saw them and determined to have some sport. They 
had heard that Indian children swam from instinct; so 
they u])set tlie canoe, tumbling the ])Oor mother and 
her infant into tlie water. The child sanlv to the bot- 
tom ; the mother dived after it, and succeeded in 
bringing it up alive. Soon after this affair it sick- 
ened and died. Squando believed that its death was 
owing to tlie cruel treatment of the white men; and 
he vowed to be revenged. This chieftain was the 



1075 rj.^1^ FlKST INDIAN AVAR COMMENCES. 71 

most remarkable Indian of liis time. Sometimes his 
conduct was quite liumane and generous toward the 
settlers, and at other times very barbarous. He was 
not only the sachem, but the pow-wow of his tribe, 
and made his ])eople believe that he had revelations 
from the spirit world. At one time when he wished 
to incite them to war against the English he said to 
them : "An angel of hglit has commanded me to wor- 
ship the Great Spirit, and to stop hunting and laboring 
on the Sabbath ; and God himself tells me he has left 
the English people to be destroyed by the Indians." 

You perceive that the prophecies of these sachems 
did not agree ; but it was not then so easy to decide 
which was false. 

7. At length the alarm sounded. In July, 1675, 
the first blow of King Philip's w^ar was struck. The 
Massachusetts authorities immediately sent the news 
to those of Maine, with the advice that the Indians 
should be deprived of their guns and knives. Some 
of the leading residents of Sagadahoc, or Lower Ken- 
nebec, immediately visited the Indians near them, and 
prevailed upon them to give up a few of their guns. 
Tliey gave them many presents, and so won their 
ftivor that Mo-ho-tiwormet, the old Canibas sachem, 
made a dance in honor of the agreement of peace be- 
tween them. The Androscoggins acted differently. 
They had for a long time felt very revengeful towards 
Thomas Purchas, who was a trader at the head of 
New Meadows River in Brunswick, because they be- 
lieved that he had cheated them in trade. One of 
their sagamores declared that he had paid an hundred 
pounds for water from Purchas' well. His Indians 
must have drunk much rum to have the water in it 
reach that amount. It is no wonder that they wasted 
away. 

8. It happened one day early in September that 
Mr. Purchas and his boys went off, leaving the 



72 mSTOKY OF MAINE. 1675 

women unprotected. Wliile they were gone a party 
of Indians came to the house, pretending that tliey 
wanted to trade; but as soon as they found the men 
were away, they fell to plundering the store and build- 
ings of whatever they wanted. While they were thus 
engaged one of the boys was seen returning on horse- 
back. Before reaching the spot he discovered the In- 
dians, and halted. A stout fellow started out towards 
him Avith his gun under liis blanket ; but the boy, per- 
ceiving his purpose, wheeled his horse about and fled. 
He carried the alarm to the coast ; and a party went 
up the river mth a sloop and two boats to bruig away 
whatever the Indians had left. Mrs. Purchas some- 
how escaded ; but the men with the vessel found more 
Indians at the settlement, and were di'iven ofi' with 
loss. 

9. On the twelfth of September the savages 
burned the house of John Wakely, near the mouth of 
the Presumpscot Piver, in Falmouth. The smoke 
and flames were seen at Casco Neck (Portland) ; and 
a party started at once for their relief. They were 
too late. The bodies of seven persons lay among the 
smoking ruins, half burned and shockingly mangled. 
It proved that two others, a girl of eleven years and 
a young child, had been carried away. IS'one knew 
what became of the child ; and the poor girl, (whose 
name was Elizabeth) now left without father, mother, 
brother or sister, was forced to traverse the wilderness 
through long and tedious months in company with the 
murderers of her relatives. 

10. Soon after this bloody affair, a friendly Soko- 
kis came to John Bonython at Saco and said to him 
privately, "A strange Indian from the westward and 
several Anasagunticooks have been at my v/igwam, 
and are persuading all our brothers to lift the toma- 
hawk against the white people." Bonython warned 
his neighbors ; and that very night they all retired for 
safety to the house of Major Wilham Philhps, on the 



1675 Tjjj, FIRST INDIAN WAR COMMENCES. 73 

Bidclcford side of the river, near the falls. The next 
morning the attack was made. The first notice was 
Bonython's house in flames; then an Indian was seen 
skulking behind a fence. Major Philhps had been 
looking at the flames, and as he turned from the win- 
dow a bullet pierced his shoulder. The savages were 
ambushed all around the house ! When Major Phil- 
hps disappeared so suddenly from the window the In- 
dians, supposing him to be killed, set up a great shout. 
The English were watchhig from every side of the 
house, and instantly flred at the shouters ; and several 
of them fell badly wounded. At dark the savages set 
fire to a small house, and to Phillip's mill ; then they 
came up crying, "Come now, you Enghsh coward 
dogs ; come put out the fire, if you dare." The Eng- 
lish didn't come ; but they sent out their leaden mes- 
sengers wherever an Indian exposed himself. 

11. At four o'clock the moon set; and then the 
savages contrived another mode of attack. They 
built up on the forward end of an ox-cart a tier of 
lumber, then filled the body with shavings, birch 
bark and sticks. A number of them took hold of 
the tongue, where they were protected by the screen 
of lumber, and pushed the cart toward the house. 
They meant to set the house on fire, and Idll the 
people as they ran out ! Fifty persons were crowded 
into this building, — most of them women and chil- 
dren. The cart was steadily approaching — nearer 
and nearer it came. Already the tiny tongues of 
flame gleamed upward through the mass; and the 
voices of the besieged grev/ hushed with fear, or some 
excited girl screamed in frenzy. But the cart comes 
steadily on, — one wheel drops into a gutter, and the 
cart swings about. The savages who hold the tongue 
are in view ; and the muskets of the English ring out 
in the still night. Several of the assailants dropped 
to the ground, and the remainder ran away, leaving 
then* load of burning sticks to hght up the fields. 



74 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^75 

The savages were discouraged; for they had killed 
none, while six of their number were dead, and fif- 
teen, including their leader, badly wounded. In the 
morning not an Indian was to be found; and a day 
or two after, Major Phillips and his company reached 
the settlement at Winter Harbor in safety. 

12. When it was known at Newichawannock (South 
Berwick) that the Indians had attacked Saco, Captain 
Wincoln and sixteen volunteers, with noble spirit, set 
out for AVinter Harbor to render all the aid possible. 
They had just landed at the mouth of the river, and 
were proceeding towards the village, when a large 
body of savages rushed out of the woods upon tliem. 
Wincoln and his company took refuge behind a huge 
pile of shingle blocks, tiring with such effect that they 
kept at bay a hundred and fifty savages. The report 
of the guns was heard at the village, and a party of 
nine men started out to join the reinforcement, — for 
such they knew it must be ; but the savages am- 
bushed their path and shot down every man. 

13. The next attack was at Newichawannock, on 
the house of John Tozier, who had gone with Captain 
Wincoln, leaving his family unprotected. His was 
one of the outermost houses of the settlement ; and in 
it were gathered at that moment fifteen women and 
children. A young lady of eighteen was the first to 
discover the Indians. She had only time to warn the 
family, when the savages reached the house. Fearful 
that the weak door fastenings would give aAvay, she 
staid and held them until the hatchets of the savages 
had broken through. They dashed in the door; but 
the family had escaped from the other side of the 
house, and were running towards the garrison. A 
part of the Indians pursued them, catching two chil- 
dren who were liindmost. One of these, only three 
years old, they Idlled on the spot; and the otlier they 
l:"])t in captivity six months. But the heroic girl at 
the door, — the savages were so angry at finding the 



1675 rpgj, FIRST INDIAN WAR COMMENCES. 75 

house empty tliat tliey beat lier to death, as they 
thought. After they had gone she revived, and Kved 
to recover from her wounds. I wish I knew her 
name, for no personage in this history woukl more 
brightly ornament its pages. 

14. The next day the Indians appeared again, and 
burned the dweUing and storehouse of Captain Win- 
cohi, then escaped in the darl^ness of night. It was 
now the goklen month of October ; but in Maine much 
of the crops remained ungathered; and the scarlet 
forests seemed to the affrighted settlers but tokens of 
fire and blood. October 7th was observed as a day 
of fasting and prayer on account of the great calami- 
ties. The Indians celebrated it at Newichawannock 
by shooting a man off his horse, and robbing two boys 
of their guns and clothing. Again on the sixteenth 
they assailed it in force, kilhng Richard Tozier, and 
making his son a prisoner. The commander of the 
garrison, Lieut. Roger Plaisted^ perceiving Indians in 
the distance, sent out nine men to reconnoiter. The 
savages saw them coming, and hiding themselves, 
shot down three of the party before they could es- 
cape. Lieut. Plaisted, with twenty men and a team, 
started to bring in the bodies of their slain compan- 
ions. They went silently past the house where Tozier 
had been killed, and reached the place of the ambush; 
the corpses were placed in the cart, and they turned 
toward the garrison with a feeling of security; for 
they supposed their numl^ers had frightened the sav- 
ages away. Yain thought ! A multitude of dusky 
figures rushed into view from behind fences, logs and 
bushes, pouring a volley of bullets upon the startled 
company. The oxen ran toward the garrison, and 
most of the men followed; but Lieut. Plaisted with 
his son and another valiant soldier disdained to fly. 
Repeatedly the Indians called upon Plaisted to sur- 
render, — for savages as they were, they greatly re- 
spected courage; but the intrepid man refused to 



76 niSTOKY OF MAINE. lt}75 

yield, and he was literally cut in pieces by their 
hatchets. 

15. The savages soon after went farther down 
the river, burning and kilhng wherever they dared. 
As they were making an attack upon a house at the 
mouth of the river, a cannon was iii*ed at them from 
the Portsmouth battery, on the opposite side, causing 
them to run off in great alarm. A light snow had just 
fallen, and a force in pursuit was able to follow them 
very rapidly. In a few hours the savages were over- 
taken on the borders of a great swamp, which, loaded 
as they were, they could not pass. They dared not 
venture on a fan* fight ; so they threw off their plun- 
der, and plunged through the swamp. In passing 
through Wells they killed three men and bm-ned a 
house; but it was their last depredation in Maine 
this year. 

16. Three months had passed since this savage 
slaughter and destruction began, and in that brief 
time eighty persons had been killed between the Pis- 
cataquis and Kennebec. Yet the Indians had lost a 
larger number, though they had every advantage. 
They never fought in open battle, but chose their own 
time and place for attack; and, being lamiliar with 
the country, their scattered bands could easily elude 
pursuit. A large force was now raised to assail the 
hostile tribes in their winter fastnesses. The soldiers 
were not ready to march until the tenth of Decem- 
ber; but the snow had then fallen to four feet in 
depth, and the campaign was abandoned. The In- 
dians now desired peace in order that they might 
hunt; for on account of the war they had raised less 
corn than usual, and had nothing else to live upon. 
So a treaty was made with the Sagamores, by which 
the Indians agreed to return all the captives without 
ransom. Between this time and the next summer 
many were restored; and among the rest Squando 
brought in Ehzabeth Wakely, the poor girl who was 



1675 FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 77 

made an orphan by the massacre at Presumpscot 
Kiver. 



What nation mingled familiarly with the Indians ? In the wars 
between the English and French which side did the Indians always 
take? Did the English colonies endeavor to deal justly with the 
Indians ? What was the number of the Indians in Maine in 1675 ? 
What great sachem warned his tribe not to war against the Eng- 
lish ? In what year did King Philip's war begin ? What settle- 
ment was first attacked in Maine ? Where did the Indians commit 
shocking barbarities? How long did the siege of Major Phillip's 
garrison in Biddef ord continue ? What took place at Winter Har- 
bor ? What noble action was performed by a young lady in Ber- 
wick ? What brave officer was cut in pieces by the savages a few 
days after ? How many persons were killed in Maine by the 
Indians this year ? What was the loss of the Indians ? 



CHAPTEE X. 

1. If the English had been magnanimous toward 
the Indians it is quite possible that the war in Maine 
would have closed in the same season it began. 
Though a treaty had been made, and a few prisoners 
returned, yet the fears of the settlers all the winter 
filled the air with rumors of treachery and bloodshed. 
Perhaps some incidents occurred to make these ru- 
mors plausible; for Major Waldron, one of the Indian 
commissioners, issued general warrants by which 
every man who held one could seize any Indian who 
might be accused of kilhng a white man, or who had 
conspired against the peace, or refused to obey the 
authorities. Among others, several sliipmasters ob- 
tained copies of these warrants, and began to seize 
Indians all along the coast. One came to Pemaquid 
for this purpose, where the peace had never been 



78 HISTORY OF MAINE. 16"<5 

broken. The English besought hmi to depart, but he 
would not; and they warned the Indians against him. 
Yet he finally caught several, and carried them away 
to a foreign port and sold them for slaves. Of course 
the natives were very angry at these outrages. To 
pacify them Abraham Shiu-te and Capt. Sylvanus 
Davis met the chiefs in council at Teconnet (Wins- 
low). Mr. Shurte was a noble and venerable man, 
who had long been the chief magistrate at Pemaquid ; 
and it was mostly o^\ing to his judicious course that 
tlie natives at the eastward had remained peaceable. 
The Indians demanded that their brothers who had 
been stolen away should be restored to them, and that 
the English should sell them sufficient ammunition to 
procure game for food. These were reasonable de- 
mands, but the agents were unable to comply Vvith 
them ; and the council broke up without profit. 

2. On August 12th, 1676, King Philip was killed, 
which ended the war in Massachusetts and Connecti- 
cut; but many of his tribe escaped and mingled with 
the Indians of Maine. These brought with them an 
intense hatred of the English ; and, joining with the 
most violent of the Abnakis, they quickly excited the 
hesitating tribes to renewed hostilities. Early in 
August one of the refugees known as "Simon, the 
Yankee-killer," made himself familiar at the house of 
Anthony Brackett, at Back Cove in Falmouth, how 
Portland. A few days after, Mr. Brackett lost one 
of his cows. When Simon was informed of the mis- 
fortune, he said, "I can show you the fellows that 
killed the creature;" and very soon he went away. 
Mr. Brackett suspected treachery ; and the settlers at 
once sent messengers to Major Waldron at Dover for 
aid. Before their return Simon came back at the 
head of a party of savages, saying to Mr. Brackett, 
"Here are the Indians that took your cow." They 
immediately fell upon the family, consisting of 
Brackett, his wife, five children and a negro servant. 



1676 FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 79 

Having bound these, they went to the other houses in 
the vicinity, killing and taking captive thirty-four per- 
sons. The remainder of the inhabitants escaped to 
Munjoy's garrison on the hill, and from here they soon 
removed to Bang's Island. Two days after this attack 
a party of natives came at nightfall to the house of 
Eichard Hammond at Stinson's Point in Woolwich, 
who gave the squaws permission to lodge on the 
kitchen floor. A girl of the family-became so alarmed 
by certain tokens of malice and treachery among the 
squaws that she ran out of the house; but some of 
them brought her back and tried to allay her fears. 
A little after, she escaped again from the dwelling and 
hid in the cornfield. By and by she heard a great 
tumult in the house, — heavy blows, shrieks, and the 
yells of warriors, whom the squaws had let in. At 
this the girl left her hiding place and fled to the near- 
est settlement on the mainland, twelve long miles 
away. 

3. From Hamm^ond's a party of savages went up 
the river, where they took several prisoners, while an- 
other party crossed to Arrowsic, and concealed them- 
selves near the fort of Messrs. Clark and Lake. It 
was Sunday morning ; and when the sleepy sentinel left 
his post and entered the gate, the lurking savage 
was at his heels. The sentinel was struck down, and 
the Indians were quickly masters of the fort. Mr. 
Lake, Captain Davis and two others, who w^ere in an 
upper room, got out through a back passage, and 
rushing to their boat, made for an island on the east. 
The savages followed swiftly, firing upon them and 
wounding Captain Davis. On reaching the shore he 
crept up the clifl*, and hid among the rocks ; where 
the sun, shining in the faces of his pursuers, dazzled 
their eyes so that they could not see him. Lake was 
overtaken and killed, but the other two escaped. 
Davis laid in his hiding place two days ; then crawhng 
to the water's edge, he rolled himself into a canoe, and 



80 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

drifted away unseen. All tlie shore from the Kenne- 
bec to Pemaquid was now alive with savages, and the 
inhabitants got away in boats and vessels as best they 
could, — first to Monhegan and other islands, thence 
to Boston and neighboring towns. Soon the smoke 
of burning dwellings arose on every hand, and few 
buildings were left unharmed. The cattle of the set- 
tlers roamed untended in the great pastures, affording 
the Indians plenty of meat; but above all they pre- 
ferred horse-flesh. 

One day Francis Card, who had been captured in 
Woolwich, was sent with another prisoner to find a 
horse and drive him in to be killed ; but they found a 
canoe instead of a horse, and quickly made their es- 
cape. Simon, the Yankee-killer, had gone to other 
scenes of violence, leaving the family of Anthony 
Brackett to follow, not supposing that they could by 
any means escape ; but they found on the shore, a 
leaky birchen canoe ; and Mrs. Brackett repaired it 
so well that they all embarked, and reached Scar- 
borough in safety. 

4. A few families of those who had been driven 
from Casco Keck had gathered on Jewel's Island, un- 
wilHng to go far from the pleasant places they had 
chosen for their homes; but here, too, the savages 
found them. One day as the women were washing 
their scanty clothing along the gravelly marge of the 
sea, and the children playing happily about, the re- 
port of a gun suddenly signalled the presence of dan- 
ger. The men were out in their boats catcliing fish, 
as usual; and it was a lad at the house who had fired 
the gun. The brave little fellow had actually killed 
two Indians with the shots that gave the alarm. 
Some of the men now came rapidly to shore, and, 
making a sudden charge, drove the savages to their 
boats. In this aflfray the Enghsh lost two killed, and 
five made prisoners. 

5. The General Court now found that something 



1676 FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 81 

must be done, or the Indians would soon carry tlie 
war into Massachusetts; so one hundred and thii'ty 
English and forty Natick Indians were enlisted, and 
put under the command of Captain William Haw- 
thorn. These arrived at Dover, New Hampshire, on 
September 6th, where they met the soldiers under 
Majors Waldron and Frost. Four hundred other In- 
dians had also gathered there. Most of them were 
of the neutral Pennacooks; but others belonged to 
lung Phihp's defeated forces ; w^hile some were known 
to have been concerned in recent depredations in 
Maine, — and were the very savages whom these troops 
expected to fight; and it was difficult to prevent the 
soldiers from falling upon them at once. Probably 
they had come there at Major Waldron's invitation 
for the purpose of making a treaty; for he protested 
to the troops that they were relying upon his honor 
and fidelity. 

6. Finally he proposed an expedient which, he 
thought, might preserve his honor with the Indians 
and still satisfy the soldiery. So the next day the In- 
dians were invited to join with the English in a sham 
fight. After they had gone through several military 
manoeuvres Major Waldron ordered a grand round of 
musketry. The Indians promptly discharged their 
guns, while the English, who were in the secret, did 
not empty a musket. They immediately surrounded 
the astonished savages, and made prisoners of them 
all without the loss of a life. The Pennacooks and 
other friendly Indians were set at liberty; but the 
others — about two hundred — ^were marched to Boston. 
Here several were proved to have taken the lives of 
the English smce the treaty, and were therefore put 
to death; while the others were carried to foreign 
countries and sold as slaves. This affair was long 
known as "Waldron's Puse." It was a trick that the 
Indians never forgot nor forgave; and they wreaked 
on him a terrible vengeance. 



82 HISTORY OF MAI:N"E. 1676 

7. Captain Hawthorn the next day set out "s\dth a 
small company for Casco Neck, to rebuild the fort. 
One day seven of the inhabitants, who had now re- 
turned, went to Peaks' Island to kill some sheep. 
While thus employed they were attacked by savages, 
and took refuge in an old stone house. They de- 
fended themselves bravely; but by the guns of the 
savages and the stones thrown down upon them from 
the walls, all were killed except one, who soon after- 
ward died of his wounds. 

The next day, in Wells, James Gooch was shot from 
his horse by the Indians, as he returned from divine 
service;, and his wife, who rode on the same horse*, 
was cut in pieces with theii* hatchets. On the follow- 
ing day they l)m-ned the settlement at Cape Neddock, 
in York, killing and carrying away captive forty per- 
sons. The Indians came and w^ent with such rapidity 
and secrecy that Captain Hawthorn's troops were una- 
1)le to meet them ; so on the twelfth of October they 
returned to Berwick. Two days after their departure 
one hundred and twenty Indians attacked the fort at 
Black Point in Scarborough, where the inhabitants 
wdio remained had taken refuge, which was immedi- 
ately abandoned. 

The leader of the savages was a shrewd Tarratine 
sagamore named Mugg. He knew the garrison was 
strong, and induced the commander, Henry Jocelyn, 
to come out and hold a parley with him. ilngg pro- 
posed easy terms of surrender ; and while they were 
talking the subject over, managed to draw Jocelyn to 
a distance from the garrison. On returning to the 
fort he was astounded to find that all the occupants 
except his own servants had fled to the boats. Mugg 
therefore secured the fort unharmed, much to his 
gratification ; for the Indians desired the place for an 
encampment. 

8. About this time Captain Fryer w^as sent to 
Kichmond's Island to bring away goods; but the sav- 



1676 FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 83 

ages set upon liis men as they were carrying tlie goods 
to the vessel, and all were killed or made prisoners. 
They were offered release for a certain additional 
quantity of goods; and two of the English were sent 
for the articles. They returned within the time nam- 
ed, but the Indians who had been left to guard the 
prisoners, took the goods and kept the men. 

Mugg next led his band against the garrison at 
Wells, and sent a prisoner to demand a surrender. 

"Never," replied the commander, "never shall the 
gates be opened until every one within is dead." 

This determined reply showed Mugg that he could 
not hope to get possession of the fort except by severe 
lighting, and he made no attack; but his Indians killed 
two or three men whom they found outside. They 
then cut the throats of thirteen cattle ; and taking out 
their tongues, retired to the woods to make a dainty 
meal. 

9. The cold weather was now coming on, and it 
was supposed that the Sokokis would soon be gathered 
in their winter quarters at the great fort on the Ossi- 
pee River; and on the first of November Captains 
Hawthorn and Sill set out with their companies to 
attack them. After two months of severe toil and 
hardship, they returned without having seen a single 
Indian. 

Before the troops had been gone a week, Mugg 
himself came into Piscataqua bringing Captain Fryer, 
who was dying from his wounds. He told the au- 
thorities that the prisoners taken at Richmond's Isl- 
and should be restored without ransom ; and offered 
to negotiate a treaty. He was taken to Boston, 
where, on November 6th, he signed a treaty in behalf 
of his master, Miidockawando, sachem of the Tarra- 
tines. The terms of this treaty were that all acts of 
liostihty should cease, all English captives, vessels and 
goods be restored, full satisfaction rendered for dam- 
ages, that his tribe should buy ammunition of those 



84 IIISTOEY OF MAINE. 1<^^6 

only whom the governor shonld a^ppoint, and that the 
Indians of Penobscot shonld take up arms against the 
Androscoggins and other eastern natives, if they per- 
sisted in the war. 

"In proof of my sincerity and honor,"' said Mngg, 
"I pledge myself an hostage in your hands till the cap- 
tives, vessels and goods are restored; and I lift my 
hand to Heaven in witness of my honest heart in this 
treaty." 

10. It was certainly a strange treaty for a victori- 
ous leader to make, as all its stipulations were in favor 
of the Enghsh. A vessel was sent to Penobscot with 
him to have the treaty ratified by the sagamores, and 
to bring home the captives. The treaty was agreed 
to, but only some eighteen or twenty prisoners were 
restored, though there must have been more than fifty 
at this time among the Indians. Mugg now set out 
for the Kennebec for the pm^pose of inducing the 
Canibas tribe to join in the peace. He pretended to 
be in much fear of harm for having made so easy a 
peace; saying to the captain of the vessel, "If I do 
not return in four days you may conclude I am cer- 
tainly bereft of life or liberty." A week passed, yet 
nothing was heard from Mugg; and the vessel w^ent 
back to Boston with the treaty and the captives. 

11. There was still a fear among the settlements 
that peace and safety 'were not secured. Few of the 
prisoners were restored, and Mugg's conduct was sus- 
picious; besides, it was believed that Indians from 
Narragansett were in Maine inciting the natives to 
resume the war. At length it began to be quite cer- 
tain that hostihties would be resumed in the spring 
unless some decisive steps were taken; therefore in 
February of 1677, Majors Waldron and Frost were 
sent eastward with an hundred and fifty men to see 
what the savages were about, and to obtain further 
pledges of peace. 

The troops landed at Mare Point in Brunswick; 



l^''^ FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 85 

meeting there a party of Indians led by Sqnando, the 
Sokolds sachem, and Simon, the Yankee-killer, — with 
whom they had a skirmish. Unable to obtain any 
ca])tives here, the troops re-embarked and went to the 
Tven.nebee. Here a party was sent to Merrymeeting 
Bay in search of the Canibas Indians, while Waldron 
kept on to Penobscot with the remainder. 

12. About the last of the month he met a com- 
pany of Tarratines at Pemaqiiid. At the first inter- 
view thsy agreed to deliver up some prisoners whom 
they had rec^eived from the Canibas, for twelve beaver 
skins each and some good liquor. Major Waldron 
and five men were to bring the articles in the after- 
noon ; and both they and the Indians who met them 
were to be unarmed. Only three captives were 
brought. Waldron suspected treachery, and looking 
about he espied the point of a lance mider a board. 
This led to the discovery of other weapons. Seizing 
one, he brandished it in their faces, exclaiming, "Per- 
fidious w^retches ! you intended to get our goods and 
then Idll us, did you?" For a moment the savages 
were confounded; then they rushed upon him and 
tried to wrest the weapon from his hands. He waved 
his cap to the ship, and bravely continued the strug- 
gle. His companions armed themselves from a pile 
of guns which they had uncovered, while other In- 
dians came to join in the afi'ray. A re-enforcement 
whicli had started from the vessels at the waving of 
the. cap, now reached the shore, — and just then a stout 
squaw seized her arms full of tlie hidden guns, and ran 
away with them into the w^oods. Finding themselves 
overpowered, the natives fled, some into tlieir canoes 
and others into the w^oods. The boats attacked the 
canoes, sinking one and disabling others, and killing 
several of the Indians. A pow-wow and two saga- 
mores — Mattahando and the bloody Megunnaway — 
were killed, and a sister of the sachem Madocka- 
wando was taken prisoner. The whole force now re- 



86 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^77 

turned to Boston, with the exception of forty men 
under Captahi Davis, wlio remained as a garrison at 
the mouth of the Kennebec. This expedition did 
more harm than good; for the natives were not paci- 
fied, but rendered more revengeful. 

13. In the spring the General Court decided to 
employ tlie Mohawks in the war ; though many good 
people thought it ^\Tong to seek the aid of the heath- 
en. The Mohawks were the hereditary enemies of 
the eastern Indians; and the first thing they did was 
to kill some of a friendly tribe, not knowing the difier- 
ence between friends and foes. Among others who 
fell by their hands was a sagamore called Blind Will; 
but the English did not feel very sorry for his death, 
because of his duplicity. Finally these heathen alhes 
were dismissed; but the news that the English were 
brino-ino: the Mohawks to fisrht them w^ent hke the wind 
through the tribes from Piscataqua to Cape Sable, 
exciting"them to the highest pitch of activity. 

14. The garrison at Kennebec, sometime in 
March, attempted to bury the bodies of those slain on 
Arrowsic Island seven months before ; but the In- 
dians were watching them, and nine were killed before 
they could escape in their boats. This point was soon 
after abandoned; amd now there remained in Maine 
only the settlements of York, AVells, Kittery, I*»[ewich- 
awannock and Winter Harbor. On the seventh of 
April the savages killed eight men while at w^ork in 
theii' fields in York; and the next day they were 
heard from in Yv'^ells, wdiere they prowled about in 
large and small parties, killing and burning, all through 
the month. 

15. Black Point had now been garrisoned anew; 
and on May 16th it was again attacked. After three 
days a sharp shooter in the fort brought down the In- 
dian leader, and the siege was soon after abandoned ; 
but the Enghsh had lost four men, one of whom was 
tortured to death. On the twenty-eighth of June 



1^77 FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 87 

Captain Bsnjamin Swett and Lieutenant Richardson 
with a force of Enghsh and friendly Indians arrived to 
aid in the defense of this place and Winter Harbor. 
The next day they marched out in search of the ene- 
my. They soon came upon a party, which immedi- 
ately retreated, leading the whole pursuing force 
between a swamp and a dense thicket about two miles 
from the fort. The party was only a decoy. The 
moment the English reached the most exposed point 
they heard the terrible war whoop, and a volley from 
a host of ambushed savages laid many a brave man 
low. Soon Lieutenant Kichardson fell; and the fight 
became hand to hand. 

16. It was now plain that the English were greatly 
outnumbered; yet Captain Swett, with great bravery 
and coolness, repeatedly rallied his old fighters to 
cover the retreat of the new recruits, and to bring off 
the wounded. He had received many wounds, and 
was becoming weak. The savages, seeing his condi- 
tion, grappled him, and, throwing him to the ground, 
cut him in pieces before the eyes of the garrison. 
With him fell forty English, and twenty friendly In- 
dians, — just two thirds of the number he led into 
action. 

The chief who had been shot from this garrison in 
May, which had caused the Indians to withdraw, 
proved to be Mugg, the Tarratine. He was a savage 
more than usually brave and cunning. You will re- 
member that he made a treaty for his tribe the year 
before, and was sent to persuade the Canibas to join 
in the peace. He pretended to be very much afraid 
that they would kill him for his services to the Eng- 
lish ; but I suspect that he was as much opposed to a 
permanent peace as they w^ere, for he even made sug- 
gestions to them for the next season's campaign. "I 
know how we can even burn Boston and drive all the 
country before us," said he. " We must go to the 
fishing islands and take all the white maii^s vessels.''^ 



88 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^77 

17. Accordingly, when tlie time of year came for 
Bay fishing, the savages proceeded to execute this 
plan. In the daytime they prowled along the shores, 
spying out tlieir prey; and in the darkness of -night 
they slid out noiselessly in their light canoes, boarding 
the motionless vessels, and killing or capturing their 
sleeping crews. In the month of July they secured 
about twenty vessels, each of them having a crew of 
from three to six men. When these captures became 
known, a large ship was sent out after them. She was 
supplied with plenty of cannon and small arms, and 
manned by forty seamen and soldiers. It was expected 
that this vessel would somewhere encounter the Indian 
fleet, which she would capture or sink, and at the 
same time destroy a multitude of savages. She came 
upon the vessels, — one here, another there, — some 
aground, and others beating against the rocks, — but 
not an Indian in any of them. The vessels were so 
large they could not be navigated by paddles; and 
the sails flew and flapped about, while the vessels went 
in any direction but that which their dusky sailors de- 
sired; consequently they soon abandoned the prizes in 
frio^ht and diso'ust. 

18. Manhattan had now been regained by the 
English, and again become "New York"; and Sir Ed- 
mund Andros was sent over as governor. He saw 
how the eastern settlements were overrun by the sav- 
ages; and, fearing that the French might take posses- 
sion of the Duke of York's province, he sent a strong 
military force to Pemaquid. The Indians were much 
discouraged by the failure of their naval project, and 
the sight of so large a force broke their courage down 
entirely; and the Tarratines very soon made a treaty 
with the commander, and gave up their captives and 
some booty. 

The next spring the commissioners of Massachu- 
setts and the sagamores of the Sokokis, Androscog- 
gins and Ganibas met at Gasco (Falmouth) and made 



IC^S FIRST INDIAN WAK CONTINUED. 89 

a treaty. The agreement was tliat all captives slioiild 
be restored without ransom, and that the inhabitants 
should possess their lands on condition of paying to 
the natives a peck of corn annually for each family. 
This closed the first Indian war, which had raged 
three years. In this war two hundred and sixty 
inhabitants of Maine were known to have been killed 
or carried into captivity from which they never re- 
turned; while more than half the settlements were 
laid waste. 

What excellent magistrate lived at Pemaquid ? When did King 
Philip's war close ? What fugitive from Philip's forces led the 
attack on Falmouth ? What places at Sagadahoc were captured 
by the Indians soon after ? What took place at Dover soon after 
these events ? What happened at Peak's Island while Capt. Haw- 
thorn was rebuilding the fort at Casco Neck ? What chieftain 
led the attack on Black Point and Wells ? For what point did a 
large force set oUt to meet the Indians ? Who came into Piscata- 
qua to make peace a few days after? Where did Major Waldron 
go in February to meet the Indians? What happened this spring 
at Arrowsic Island ? What two brave English leaders fell at Black 
Point this season ? What noted sagamore was killed by a shot 
from the fort in May? What was Mugg's plan for attacking the 
settlements? What events put an end to the war? How many 
settlements had been destroyed ? 



90 HISTORY OF MAINE. . 1^87 



CHAPTER XI. 

1 . Several years before the first Indian war a French- 
man called Baron Castine had come to Biguydiice, on 
the eastern side of Penobscot Bay, and opened a trade 
with the natives. He had originally come to Canada 
in command of a regiment; and when that was dis- 
banded, feeling himself aggrieved, he plnnged into 
the wilderness far away from all his kindred and na- 
tion. Here he soon married a daughter of Madocka- 
w^ando, sachem of the Penobscot Indians, and himself 
became a sagamore of that tribe. Twice during the 
war the Dutch drove him away from his settlement; 
and in 1676 the Enghsh drove the Dutch away. 
Then, as the Dutch liked the region so well, and there 
were too many at New York, Governor Andros settled 
several families of them about Pemaquid. 

2. In 1687 Andros was appointed governor of 
New England; and, taking a tour eastward in the 
spring of the next year, he, also, made a descent upon 
Castine's settlement. He found there a fort, dwelling 
house, trading liouse, and chapel ; but Castme himself 
with all his people had cautiously retired to the woods. 
Like Castine, Andros was a Papist; so he touched 
nothing in the cliapel, which w^as very richly decor- 
ated, but carried away all else that was movable, — 
furniture, firearms and goods. On his return he met 
some of the Tarratines at Pemacpaid, and told them 
not to fear or follow the French, offering them his 
protection. "Tell your friend Castine," said Andros, 
"if he will render loyal obedience to the King of Eng- 
land, every article taken from hhn shall be restored." 
In order to make sure of the good will of the Indians, 
he made them presents of clothing, and treated them 
with ardent spirits. 



1G88 FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 91 

The colonists did not have much confidence in the 
peace-making of Governor Andros, and wanted to 
prepare for war ; but he would not allow them. A 
httle more than two months later the war broke out. 

3. It was about the middle of August, 1688, that 
the Indians waylayed two men in North Yarmouth as 
they were out looldng for their oxen. Other savages 
then approached a party who were at work on the 
garrison house, and soon commenced a fight with 
them. The English retired to the rivej-, where they 
were partially protected by the high, steep bank, and 
made a brave defense until their ammunition was 
gone. The people living on the other side of the 
river had become aware of the fight. One of these, 
Captain Walter Gendcll, perceiving that his country- 
men had ceased firing, seized a bag of ammunition 
and hastened in his boat to their relief; but as he 
reached the shore he was shot fatally by the savages 
upon the bank. He had just strength enough to 
throw the ammunition to his friends, and say, "I 
have lost my life in your service," — then breathed his 
last. With this fresh supply the English beat ofi* their 
foes. 

4. At midnight the Indians repaired to Lane's Isl- 
and, a short distance out in the bay; wdiere they held 
their horrid carousal, butchering the two men whom 
they captured before the figlit. The settlers consid- 
ered it imprudent to remain any longer at Korth Yar- 
mouth, and soon removed to the islands; being fiercely 
attacked here also, they finally fled to Boston. 

Early in August a band of near a hundred Indians, 
unknown to the inhabitants, hung about the village of 
Jamestown at Pemaquid, and at length captured a 
man passing from there toward the Kennebec. 
Learning from their prisoner the condition of the set- 
tlement, they proceeded to make an attack. One 
party followed Judge Gyles, who, with fourteen men, 
had gone to work on the farms at the falls three miles 
5 



92 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^88 

above ; while the others entered the village, and snc- 
ceeded in getting possession of several dwellings, and 
from this shelter made their assault on the fort. 

5. At night the garrison were summoned to sur- 
render: the cool reply was, "We are weary and want 
sleep." They expected, doubtless, that the party from 
the farms would retm-n as soon as the darkness was 
sufficient to cover them. The night passed, but there 
were no tidings of the absent men. Two days more 
the garrison held out, and all hopes from Gyles and 
his men were given up. Weems, the commander of 
the fort, had fallen, and his little company found 
themselves obliged to yield. They were allowed, ac- 
cording to the stipulations, to retain their arms, and 
depart in a sloop which lay in the harbor. Tlie In- 
dians then destroyed the fort and houses, and departed 
with their spoil and prisoners. 

6. It was soon after noon of the first day of the 
siege when about forty warriors led by a chief named 
Moxus came upon Gyles' party. The savages at once 
gave them a volley ; then with demoniac yells rushed 
upon them. A few only escaped, the larger number be- 
ing either killed or captured. Judge Gyles was mor- 
tally wounded, and his sons James and John taken pris- 
oners. In answer to a taunt of Moxus, the old man 
made reply: "I am a dying man, and ask no favors 
but to pray with my sons." This having been grant- 
ed, the poor old gentleman was led aside and dis- 
patched with a hatchet. Soon after this the boys met 
with their mother and two little sisters, also captives; 
but these were redeemed within a fev/ months. John 
remained in captivity nine years, enduring many hard- 
ships and abuses. At last he was purchased by a 
French trader, and restored to his surviving relatives. 
Afterward he served the government as interpreter and 
as a soldier for many years. His brother fared worse. 
After three years of captivity he attempted to escape, 
but was retaken, and put to torture on the heights of 
Castine. 



1G89 FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 93 

7. In consequence of the fall of Jamestown at 
Pemaquid, the coast east of the Kennebec was now 
deserted ; and it remained without inhabitants for 
nearly thirty years. Governor Andros still pursued 
his peace policy, setting the Indian captives at liberty, 
and attempting to treat with the tribes at several times 
and places. Not meeting with the least success, the 
governor took a violent turn the other way; and, 
raising eight hundred men, he sent them eastward to 
wreak terrific vengeance on the refractory savages. 
By setting out late in*November, they suffered greatly 
during the whole campaign from cold and exposure; 
and failed to kill or capture a single savage, or even to 
see one of them. 

In the spring the Massachusetts people revolted 
against Governor Andros, and sent him a prisoner to 
England; for King James II., who appointed him to 
office, had abdicated the throne, vnd Wilham and Mary 
were king and queen of England. The government 
chosen by the people of 'New England was again re- 
vived; Deputy Governor Danfortli of Massachusetts 
being governor of the province of Maine. 

8. The new government sent peaceful messages to 
Baron Castine and to the Tarratines, hoping that 
these and the well-manned garrisons might prevent 
the renewal of hostilities. The hope was vain. My 
readers will remember the affair at Dover in the first 
war, called ^'Waldron's Ruse." That evil seed now 
bore its dreadful fruit. On the evenino- of the seventh 
of June, 1689, two squaws came to the garrison at 
this place, and begged for lodgings. Their request 
was granted. At the most silent hour of night, when 
all others in the garrison were sunk in repose, the 
treacherous squaws opened the gates; and two hun- 
dred savages who had been crouching outside, rushed 
in at the moment. The commander of the garrison 
was the same Major Waldron who, twelve years be- 
fore, had broken his faith with the Indians, and made 



94 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^8^ 

four hundred of them prisoners. But his fighting days 
were now well nigh over, for he was eighty years of 
age. The Indians quickly found the apartment where 
he and his young wife lay asleep. The door was bro- 
ken; but, wakened by the noise, the old hero sprang 
from his bed and drove his assailants back through 
two rooms with liis sword. As he turned back for 
his pistols he was stunned by a blow upon the head ; 
and in a moment he was in the grasp of the savages. 
They dragged the white-haired old man into the hall, 
and bound him into his own afm chair, which they 
had placed upon the long table. Often for many years 
past, had he sat at this table as justice of the peace, 
setthng the disputes of both the Enghsh and the In- 
dians. It was a wild group that now gathered in that 
room, beneath the ruddy glare of the torches, — that 
brave old man, his white hair and loose garments 
waving in the midnight wind, — and about him the 
cruel faces of the painted savages. 

9. "I cross out my account," cried they, as each 
of the two hundred in turn drew his knife across the 
body of their victim. When liis flesh was filled with 
gashes, they cut ofi:' liis nose and ears, and thrust them 
into his mouth ; and, to close this scene of vengeance, 
they tumbled the dying man over upon his sword held 
erect upon the table. So died the noble Major Wal- 
dron, and the revenge of the savages was accomplish- 
ed. Then they set die village on fire, killed twenty- 
three of the inhabitants, and carried away captive 
twenty-nine others, whom they sold to the French for 
servants. 

The Indians now ranged through the x^i'ovinces of 
Maine and Sagadahock ; in the daytime waylaying the 
traveler upon his road and the husbandman upon his 
farm, in the darkness prowling about the blockhouses 
and stockades, to surprise the unwary inmates; so 
that before the summer of this year was past, all the 
country eastward of Falmouth was deserted. At the 



1G89 FIKST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 95 

last of August Major Swaine was sent eastward 
from Massachusetts with near six hundred men; with 
whom he drove the Indians from Scarborough and 
Fahnouth, though at the expense of nearly half of 
Capt. Hall's company. 

10. About three Vv-eeks after, Benjamin Church, who 
had been very successful in I\jng Philip's war, was 
put in chief command in Maine. At Fort Loyal, on 
Casco Neck, (Portland) he met a daughter of Major 
Waldron, who had just been rescued from the Indians 
by a Dutch privateer, then in the harbor. She told 
Major Church that the Indians, who had brought her 
into the bay, numbered near seven hundred; and 
that several Frenchmen were with them. 

Church determined to be ready for them ; and at 
daylight he posted two companies of English and In- 
dians under Captain Hall among some small trees near 
the head of Back Cove, about half a mile northwest 
of the village. Before the Major had finished his 
breakfast Captain Hall discovered the savages on the 
opposite side of' the cove, and immediately crossed 
and attacked them. Church now learned that nearly 
the whole stock of bullets were too large for the guns ; 
and he had them cut up into slugs as quickly as possi- 
ble. Messengers were sent to the cove with a supply 
for Captain Hall, but the tide was up, and they dared 
not go over. In this dilemma an Indian of Hall's 
force, called Captain Lightfoot, threw down his gun 
and forded the stream to meet the messengers ; and 
taking a knapsack of powder on his head and a kettle 
of bullets in each hand, he waded safely back; so 
the companies were enabled to maintain their position. 

11. Meantime Major Church had gone up the 
stream in order to cross the bridge and fall upon the 
rear of the enemy. Just beyond the bridge tlie sav- 
ages had built breastworks of logs and bushes, be- 
hind whicli they were hiding. Church ordered his 
men to scatter and rush across ; but before they could 



96 mSTOKY OF MAIIS^E. l^^O 

reach the breastworks every Indian had fled. Before 
Church could find tliem, those in front of Captain 
Hall had also retreated, escaping into a cedar swamp 
at the west. 

After this repulse the Indians were not seen again 
.for the season, though the forces ranged as far east as 
Kennebec; therefore when winter came on. Church 
returned to Massachusetts, leaving sixty of his soldiers 
to garrison Fort Loyal. Through the season of snows 
the Indians were occupied as usual in procuring their 
necessary food, and the settlers of Maine had rest; 
but with the opening of the spring the war was re- 
newed with increased vigor. 

12. At daybreak of the eighteenth of March, 1690, 
the inhabitants of Newichawannock (Berwick) were 
aroused by the yells of the savages at their doors. 
The attacking party consisted of iifty-two French and 
Indians under M. Hartel of Canada, and Hopehood, 
a chieftain of the Kennebec. The people defended 
themselves bravely, but thirty-fom' were killed, while 
fifty-four, mostly women and childi-en, fell into the 
hands of the savages, and were carried into captivity. 
There were at this time about twenty-seven houses in 
the village, which, together with the barns, mills, and 
many cattle, were destroyed. 

13. In the May following, four or five hundred 
French and Indians came into Casco Bay from the 
Kennel)ec and Penobscot in a great flotilla of canoes. 
Probably they were alarmed by the fleet of Commo- 
dore Pliipps, w^io had just sailed past this coast on 
his way to Acadie ; for they did not make their attack 
at once, but encamped somewhere in Falmouth, rav- 
aging among the cattle of the settlers. Meantime a 
force of one hundred militia from the western towns, 
together with a part o/ the garrison of Fort Loyal, 
were sent out in search of them. While they were 
absent thirty young volunteers from the garrison as- 
cended Munjoy's Hill, to see if any savages were lurk- 



1690 FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 97 

ing in that vicinity. On this hill, about half a mile 
from the fort, Avas a long green lane leading to a 
house at the edge of the woods. As they passed 
through this lane they noticed that the cattle were 
staring strangely at the fence; and, suspecting that 
Indians might be hidden there, they rushed towards 
the point with a loud "huzza." Yery dearly did they 
pay for their rashness ; for the watchful savages poured 
upon them a volley which brought fourteen of their 
number to the ground. The remainder fled to the 
village, closely pursued by the French and Indians. 
These assailed with great fury the houses where the 
people had taken refuge, and killed a great many of 
them ; but in the night those who were left escaped to 
Fort Loyal. The next morning the enemy plundered 
the village and set it on fire. They next attacked the 
fort, but the cannon kept them at such a distance that 
they could do little harm. But they soon found a deep 
gulley not far away where the guns could not touch 
them; and here they began to mine toward the garri- 
son. After several days an underground passage had 
been carried very near the walls of the fort ; and its 
surrender was demanded. The commander was mor- 
tally wounded ; and, as the enemy offered fair terms 
and Idnd treatment, the garrison capitulated. Ma- 
dockawando, the Tarratine, with his son-in-law. Baron 
Castine, were the chief Indian leaders ; and the whole 
was under the command of a Frenchman named 
Burnetfe. The leaders made little attempt to restrain 
the savages; and the wounded, together with many of 
the women and children, were brutally murdered, and 
the others treated in a most barbarous manner. 

14. Fort Loyal having fallen, all the garrisons as 
far west as Wells were now abandoned ; and again the 
Indians ranged victoriously over Maine, making cap- 
tives and burning buildings in every quarter. Many 
of these captives were detained for months in the wil- 
derness; made to carry the packs of plunder through 



98 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1<590 

rougli woods and tangled swamps, over rugged liills, 
in rain, snow and cold, — ^}^)Oorly clad and often half 
starved, — and still urged on by dreadful threats and 
the points of the Indians' weapons. 

What Frenchman lived at Biguyduce at the time of the first 
Indian war ? Who was appointed governor of New England in 
1G87? In what year did the second Indian war break out ? What 
noble deed was performed at Yarmouth, and by whom? What 
place east of the Kennebec was captured by the Indians ? How 
long did the region east of Sagadahoc now remain without inhab- 
itants ? At the abdication of James II. what happened in New 
England ? Can you give an account of the massacre at Cocheco, 
or Dover ? Who was placed in command of the forces in Maine 
in 1G89 ? Give an account of his engagement with the Indians at 
Casco Neck. Who led the attack on Newichawaunock the next 
spring? In what bay did the Indians next appear? Who were 
the leaders of the attack on Fort Loyal ? What was the most 
easterly settlement now remaining? 



CHAPTER XII. 

1. Soon after the captui^e of Fort Loyal the French 
withdrew from Maine; for Sir WiUiam Phipps was 
giving them employment enough in their own terri- 
tory. 

Phipps was a Maine hoy, the son of a gunsmitli at 
Woolwich on the Sheepscot Piver, where he was born 
in the year 1650. He had twenty-five brothers and 
sisters, being himself the tenth child. When he was 
about sixteen years of age his father died, leaving lit- 
tle else than a small farm for the support of his nu^ 
mcrous family. William continued to work on the 
f ii-m until he was eighteen, when he was apprenticed 
to a ship carpenter for four years. At the close of 



1690 FEENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 99 

liis apprenticeship he went to Boston and worked at 
his trade, and learned to read and write. A year or 
two hiter he married; and soon after this he went 
back to his old home on the Sheepscot River, and 
bnilt a ship for some Boston men. The vessel was 
completed just as the first Indian war broke out. He 
had purchased a cargo of lumber to take to Boston 
when he delivered the ship to its owners ; but, seeing 
the inhabitants in distress and in danger of destruction 
by the savages, he abandoned his lumber at a great 
loss, and, taking the afflicted people on board, carried 
them away to a place of safety. 

2. After building vessels and making voyages for 
several years he learned that a Spanish ship laden 
with treasure had been sunk near the Bahama Islands. 
He told his story to the Dul^e of Albermarle, who 
aided him in obtaining one of the king's ships, in 
which he sailed in search of the wreck. The first 
voyage was unsuccessful, but on the second he found 
it lying under forty or fifty feet of water. He ob- 
tained from it thirty-four tons of silver, beside gold, 
pearls and jewels, worth in all $1,350,000. His part 
of this amounted to $70,000. For the fair manner 
in which he treated the crew, and the honest divi- 
sion he made of the spoil, the king made him a 
knight; and the Duke and Duchess of Albermarle 
sent his wife a golden cup worth four thousand dol- 
lars, as a special mark of esteem. 

At home, when the expedition against Acadia 
was planned, he w^as thought to be the fittest person 
to command it; and so he was made commodore. He 
sailed from Boston early in May, 1690, with a frigate 
of forty guns and eight other vessels. He took pos- 
session of the country, captured the authorities, and, 
at the close of the same month, returned to Boston, 
bringing sufficient of the enemy's merchandise to pay 
the expense of the expedition. 

3. The success of Phipps encouraged the colonists 



100 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1690 

to send an expedition against Canada, which started 
early in the next August — the sea forces only be- 
ing under his command. The land forces were to 
march from Kew York by way of Lake Champlain, 
and meet the fleet on the St. Lawrence. But the 
army met with discouragements and turned back ; and 
Phipps, not receiving the promised aid from Eng land, 
was repulsed before the strong fortifications of Que- 
bec. On his return a great storm wrecked many of 
the vessels, and scattered the remainder so that they 
came into Boston one by one, some of them not arriv- 
ing for nearly a month after. The colonies had 
counted on success, and had expected the spoils to pay 
the expense, as before ; and there was no money in 
the treasury to pay the men, and very little specie 
among the inhabitants. 

Then for the first time in America, paper money 
was contrived. Li December the General Court of 
Massachusetts issued what were called " Bills of 
Credit," with which the public debts were paid. It 
soon depreciated so that one dollar in specie was 
worth four dollars in bills; but they afterward in- 
creased in value until that they were w^orth as much 
as the coin. 

4. A few weeks after Phipps set out for the St. 
Lawrence Major Church was sent again into Maine. 
He landed at Maquoit, and marched directly to the 
falls at Pejepscot (Brunswick). Not finding any In- 
dians, he continued up the river. A little past noon 
of the next day he came in sight of the cataract at a 
place called by the Indians Amity 011200711001^^ now 
known as Lewiston Falls. Before they came to the 
Little Androscoggin, which was still between them 
and the Indian fort, they were discovered by a savage 
near the river. In order to surprise the Indians, 
Church was obhged to act with all possible speed ; . 
and, while one company staid with the baggage, the 
other two, with Church at their head, waded the 



1690 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 101 

river, and ran swiftly towards the fort. But the In- 
dian they had seen was there before them ; and just 
as they l3urst in ther south gate the savages rushed out 
at the north, and retreated down the hill to the large 
river. But Church's men had cut them off from their 
canoes; and some of them were shot in the water, 
while only one gained the opposite bank — for the 
current here was very strong, it being just below the 
falls. The larger number of Indians, however, had 
run under the cataract, and hid in the rocky caverns 
behind the falling w^aters, and thus escaped. Sev- 
eral prisoners were taken at the fort, among whom 
were the wives and children of Worumbee, the sachem 
of the region, and of Kancamagus, a Pennacook chief- 
tain. "Tell the sagamores," said Church, as he de- 
parted, "that they may find their wives and children 
at WeUs." 

5. On his return he had a skirmish with a body of 
savages at the mouth of the Saco, and another at Cape 
Elizabeth, — in both of which the enemy was beaten. 
In October these chiefs with several other Indians, 
came to Wells, and were much gratified to receive 
again their wives and children. 

"The French have made fools of us," said they; 
"we will go to war against you no more ; we are ready 
to meet your head men at any time and place you ap- 
point, and enter into a treaty." 

Accordingly, on the last of l^ovember, six saga- 
mores met the commissioners at Sagadahock, where 
they surrendered a few prisoners and signed a truce. 
Tlie truce was to continue until the next May, w^hen 
they were to bring the remaining prisoners to Wells, 
and make a lasting peace. 

6. Yet it was a dismal winter to the people of 
Maine; for they had known too much of Indian 
treachery to feel at ease respecting the next season. 
Every town east of Wells had been destroyed; and 
only the settlements of Wells, York, Kittery and the 



102 HISTORY OF MAINE. 



1691 



Isles of Shoals now remained. The settlement in 
Wells was near the beach, Avhere there were several 
honses of lieAvn timber, with flankers and watch tow- 
ers — a little village of block houses. In some of 
these the upper story was largest, projecting over the 
lower story ; w^hile others had tlie upper story turned 
so that the corners projected beyond the sides of the 
lower story. This was for the purpose of firing down 
upon assailants, if they should come close to the build- 
ing. The sides were also pierced with long, narrow 
openings for the guns. 

7. In May, 1691, the time set for the treaty, Mr. 
Danforth, President of the province, with several 
other members of the government, came to Wells to 
meet the Indians. None appeared; but Captain Con- 
verse found several lurking in the neighborhood, and 
brou2:ht them in. AVhen asked whv the sas-amores 
were not present according to promise, their answer 
was, "We no remember the time. But still we now 
give up two captives ; and we promise, certain, to 
bring the rest in ten days." They departed, and 
though the oflicers waited, nothing more was seen of 
them. 

On the ninth of June thirty-five soldiers came to 
reinforce the garrison at Wells; and in half an liour 
after their arrival the place was attacked by two hun- 
dred Indians under the famous Moxus. Being re- 
pulsed here they vrent to Cape Neddock, in York, 
where they killed the crev^ of a vessel, and burned the 
houses. 

8. Two or three weeks later, four companies under 
Captain King started in search of the savages, meeting 
them at Maquoit Bay, in Brunsvvdck, where he had a 
sharp skirmish. During the remainder of the season 
th'e Indians shunned to meet the Enghsh forces, but 
hung about the coast and remaining villages, burning 
exposed buildings, and shooting down or taking cap- 
tive lone men, women and children. 



1692 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 103 

Early in the morning of February fifth, 1692, the 
inhabitants of York, wliile yet in their beds, heard the 
report of a gun. It was the Indians' signal of attack. 
Between two and three hundred savages, led by 
Frenchmen, instantly fell upon the unarmed settlers ; 
and in half of an hour, more than a hundred and 
sixty of the inhabitants were helpless captives, or 
lay bleeding on the cold snow. Tliere were four 
strongly fortified houses in the settlement, and the 
people who found shelter in these alone escaped ; and 
when the savages demanded a surrender, their answer 
was, ''JSTever, till we have shed the last drop of blood." 
















GARRISON HOUSE AT YORK, BUILT ABOUT 1645. 



9. So after plundering and setting fire to the re- 
maining houses the Indians went away, carrying with 
them nearly a hundred prisoners. TJie sufferings of 
these from hunger, cold and fatigue must have been 



104 HISTORY OF MAINE. 



1692 



very great ; yet there was one pleasant incident in this 
terrible affair. In Captain King's expedition from 
York eastward in the summer previous he left un- 
harmed four or five Indian women and their childi'en 
whom he found at Pejepscot; and for this the savages 
now sent back to the garrison several elderly women 
and young children. 

The garrison at Wells at this time consisted of only 
fifteen soldiers under Captain Converse; and on the 
ninth of June two sloops came in with supplies and a 
reinforcement. About an hour after their arrival the 
cattle ran in from the pastures, frightened and bleeding. 
By this the settlers knew that there were Indians in 
the vicinity, and at once made all possible prepara- 
tions for safety. The next morning at daybreak five 
hundred French and Indians appeared before the gar- 
rison. They were led by Madockawando, Egeremet, 
Moxus, Worumbee, and other sagamores, together 
with Labrocree, a French ofiicer; all being under the 
command of M. Burneffe, Avho had been the leader at 
the destruction of Falmouth. 

10. They learned from a prisoner captured outside 
of the fort, that it contained only thirty soldiers ; and, 
being confident of success, they apportioned among 
themselves the prisoners whom they expected soon to 
have. Then with hideous shouts, they commenced an 
attack, which was continued all day; but still the gar- 
rison held out. Meantime they constructed a rough 
breastwork of timber and hay, from which they fired 
upon the vessels; setting them on fire several times 
with their fire arrows. But the crews put out tho 
fiames with wet mops on long poles ; and their bullets 
pierced through the breastwork so often that the ene- 
my was forced to leave it. Then they built a shot- 
proof breastwork on wheels, and rolled it towards the 
shore. One wheel sunk in the soft earth, and as a 
Frenchman applied his shoulder to lift it out a shot 
from the vessel brought him down ; then another who 



1692 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 105 

took his place shared the same fate, and this, too, was 
abandoned. 

11. A scout of six men had been sent out to look 
for Indians only a few hours before they appeared. 
The next morning after the attack these approached 
the fort just at daylight, on their return. Th^ cor- 
poral, discovering a party of Indians close by, cried 
out, "Captain Converse, wheel your men round the 
hill, and these few dogs are ours." The savages, 
thinking that Converse was at their heels, fled in great 
haste ; and the scout got safely into the fort. 

The enemy, probably ashamed of this flight, soon 
after advanced in full force to attack the fort. One 
of the soldiers now sighingly suggested a surrender. 

"Utter the word again," said Converse, "and you 
are a dead man. All lie close; fire not a gun until it 
will do execution." 

12. The enemy came up firmly, and, arriving 
within range, gave three wild shouts, then poured a 
volley upon the fort. Those in the garrison exerted 
themselves to the utmost, — even the w^omen bringing 
ammunition, and the brands to discharge their little 
cannon; and for a few moments the walls blazed with 
fire from the muskets and cannon, causing the enemy 
to retreat in disorder v/ith great loss. 

Failing to ])revail against the vessels by means of 
breastworks, the French and Indians now constructed 
a raft; and heaping it high with, combustibles, they 
set it on fire, and pushed it off. The tide bore the 
burning mass directly toward the vessels ; but these, 
having been lashed together for better defense, could 
not be moved out of the way, and their destruction 
seemed inevitable. But a kind Providence, just at the 
critical moment, sent a breeze, and drove the raft 
away 'to the opposite shore, where it burned harm- 
lessly out. 

13. The enemy before the fort now sent a flag of 
truce, demancHng a surrender and inquiring what 
terms were desired. 



106 HISTORY OF MAINE. 16^2 

"I want nothing but men to iiglit," replied Captain 
Converse. 

''Then if you, Converse, are so stout, why don't you 
come out and fight in the field like a man, and not 
stay in a garrison like a squaw ?" said one of the In- 
dian;^ 

"AVliat fools are you ? Think you my thirty arc a 
match for your five hundred ? Come upon the plains 
with only thirty, and I'm ready for you." 

"No, no; we think English fashion — you kill me, 
me kill you — all one fool. Kot so; better lie some- 
where and shoot 'em Englishmen when he no see; — 
that's the best soldier." 

14. The Indian bearing the flag threw it down and 
ran away; and the enemy began to fire again, keep- 
ing up a scattering discharge until midnight. In the 
morning they were gone. They had not killed a man 
in the garrison, and but one on board of the vessels. 
In revenge for the death of Labrocree, one of their 
leaders, they put their only captive to torture. They 
scalped him, slit his hands between the fingers, and 
his feet between the toes, cut deep gashes in his body, 
and stuck the gaping wounds full of lighted torches; 
then they left him to die by degrees. 

15. In the spring of 1692 the king issued a new 
charter for Massachusetts and Maine, even including 
Acadia ; and under it appointed Sir Wilham Phipps 
as governor. The new ruler had a warm regard for 
his native place, and was resolved that it should l)e 
better defended than formerly ; therefore in the au- 
tumn of the same year he built a great stone fort at 
Pemaquid. While this was in process of construction 
the brave Church, now colonel, with one company of 
the men, ascended the Penobscot again in search of 
the natives. He came to Seven-hundred-acre Island, 
near which they dwelt in large numbers; but they 
discovered his approach and escaped in their canoes. 
Yet he captured a few of them, and secured quantities 
of corn, together with moose and beaver skins. 



1692 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 107 

16. He soon after ascended the Kennebec, where 
he had a smart fight not far from Swan Island. Here 
a part of the Indians were driven into the woods, 
wliile others fled in tlieir canoes np the river to their 
fort at Teconnet, in the present town of Winslow. 
Church followed them; but as soon as he was dis- 
cerned approaching, the savages set fire to their huts 
and ran away into the forests. This exploit closed 
Church's third expedition eastward. 

In the autumn M. Iberville, then newly made 
French commander in Acadia, came to Pemaquid 
with a body of French and Indians to capture the 
place ; but when he saw how strong the fort was, he 
gave up the project in despair — while the savages 
stamped the ground in rage. 

17. The next- spring the intrepid Captain Converse 
was made major; and the garrisons of Maine and 
Sagadahock, together with three hundred and fifty 
new levies, were put under his command. He built a 
stone fort at Saco, and hunted the Indians to the 
mountains, scouting as far east as the Penobscot. 
The Indians were also in fear of an incursion of the 
Mohawks, while the French had been obliged to leave 
them in order to defend their own settlements; there- 
fore early in August, 1693, tlnrteen sagamores, repre- 
senting all the tribes from Saco to St. Croix, came to 
Pemaquid and made a treaty of peace. They agreed 
to restore all their captives without ransom, to buy 
their supplies at the English trading houses, and gave 
up all claim^s to the possessions of the English inhabit- 
ants. But they were immediately dissuaded by the 
French from surrendering the prisoners and from car- 
rying the treaty into effect in other respects. 

18. A. Jesuit priest now resided in each of the four 
principal native settlements in Maine ; and these were 
ever the ready agents of the French government in 
their intrigues. Yery soon the Indians were again 
engaged in open hostilities; and within a few weeks 



108 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1696 

they made anotlier descent upon Coelieco, which was 
now the second time destroyed. They continued to 
kill, capture and burn; and though strenuous efforts 
w^ere made to obtain a new treaty, every attempt 
proved a failure. In February, 1696, the sagamores 
Egeremet, Toxus and Abenquid, v/ith a number of 
their followers, came into the fort at Pemaquid to pro- 
cure an exchange of prisoners; but by order of Cap- 
tain Chubb, the commander, they were treacher- 
ously attacked by the garrison, and two of the chiefs 
with several of their followers killed, and others 
thrust into confinement ; only Toxus and a few others 
of the most athletic escaping. This was in retaliation 
for an attack upon a party of his soldiers in the neigh- 
borhood the autumn before, by which four of them 
were killed and six wounded. I am sorry to say that 
even the Puritans at this period seem to have im- 
bibed somewhat of the brutality of the savages, for the 
General Court offered a bounty of fifty pounds each 
for Indian scalps, and the same for captive squaws and 
children. Yet we must remember that there was no 
other convenient way for the soldiers to prove the 
number they had killed in order to get their bounty. 
Certainly war is a brutahzing occupation. 

19. In July, 1696, Iberville came against Pema- 
quid with three ships of war, two companies of French 
soldiers, and two hundred and fifty Indians in canoes. 
On the way he had met and beaten an Enghsh arma- 
ment in the Bay of Fundy ; and he now confidently 
demanded the surrender of the fortress. 

"I shall not give up the fort though the sea be cov- 
ered with French vessels, and the land with wild In- 
dians," replied Captain Chubb, pompously. 

This fort, you remember, was the one built by Gov- 
ernor Phipps, and was of stone, very large and strong 
for those days. It mounted fifteen heavy guns, and 
was garrisoned by ninety-five soldiers, — ^liaving also 
an abundance of arms, ammunition and provisions ; so 



1G9G FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTINUED. 109 

that tli8 commander thought he was much more than 
a match for the enemy. A rattlmg fire of musketry- 
was kept up until dark ; but during tlie night the 
Frencli landed some cannon and mortars on the other 
side of the little bay. By the next afternoon they had 
them in position, and threw several bombs into the 
fort. This was something Captain Chubb had not 
considered; and it frightened him and liis garrison so 
much that he surrendered at once — only stipulating 
for a safe passage to Boston. There Chubb was tried 
by a court martial; and being found guilty of coward- 
ice, lost his commission. Two years later the Indians 
found out his residence, and killed him, in revenge 
for his treachery toward the flag of truce. 

20. A squadron of armed vessels was sent by the 
colonies in pursuit of Iberville's fleet, but it was too 
late; and they captured only an ofiicer and twenty 
soldiers, wlio had lingered behind in a sliallop. At 
tlie last of August Colonel Church again went east- 
ward, ascending the Penobscot as far as Oldtown, but 
without meeting any large number of Indians. He 
also visited the Bay of Fundy, where he took valuable 
spoil ; for this region had now been recovered by the 
French. 

The next year Major March was sent eastward with 
five hundred men to chastise the Indians. On the 
ninth of September, as his forces were landing at 
Damariscotta, the Indians rushed out from an ambush, 
and giving the war-whoop, poured a fearful volley of 
bullets upon tlie troops. The English instantly rallied 
and answered witli a well-aimed fire, then charged 
with bayonets ; and the savages ran away, leaving their 
dead npon the field. 

21. In December, 1697, news came that peace had 
been made between England and France by the treaty 
of Ryswick ; and this long war drew to a close. 

Peace was not definitely settled with the Indians 
until January, 1099, when a treaty was made at Mare 



110 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

Point, in Brunswick. This was tlie second Indian 
war, sometimes called tlie old French and Indian war, 
and Baron Castine's war ; also William and Mary's 
war, from having occurred during their reign. It had 
lasted above ten years, and in that time about fom- 
hundred and fifty English had fallen, and two hundred 
and fifty been carried into captivity. 

What noted man was born in Woolwich ? For what was he 
knighted ? What naval expedition did he command ? In what 
year did Majol- Church make his famous expedition up the An- 
droscoggin ? AVhat place was attacked soon after the time set for 
the treaty ? Describe the disastrous attack upon York. Describe 
the attack on Wells the next j^ear. Whom did the king appoint 
governor of New England in 1G92 ? What did Governor Phipps 
do for the protection of his native region? Where did Major 
Church meet the Indians at this time ? Who prevented the In- 
dians from carrying out the provisions of the treaty made at Pema- 
quid ? Did Iberville's second expedition against Pemaquid meet 
with success ? What happened at Damariscotta the next year ? 
What treaty operated to close this war ? How long had the war 
lasted ? How many English had fallen ? How many had been 
carried into captivity ? 



1694 WITCHCKAFT, PIRACIES AND TREATY. Ill 



CHAPTEH XIII. 

1 . While the people of Maine were suffering from the 
attacks of the French and Indians, those of Massachu- 
setts were afflicted b j the witchcraft delusion, in which 
many good, as well as some bad people were put to 
death. About the year 1650 two or three persons in 
Massachusetts professed themselves witches, and were 
therefore hanged. I suppose they had some nervous 
disorder, or perhaps mesmerism and clairvoyance were 
at the bottom of much of this mischief. More cases 
of the kind happened in 1688; but it was not until 
the spring of 1692 that the delusion came on, which 
spread like a contagious disease all through the towns, 
and proved such a terrible calamity. Governor Pliipps 
had not meddled with the matter, though his friend, 
Rev. Cotton Mather, was among the foremost in these 
prosecutions; but wliile the governor was away in 
Maine, his kind-hearted wife signed an order for the 
release of a lady who was in prison for witchcraft. 
Then Mistress Phipps also was accused of being a 
witch. Tliis was the situation of things when the gov- 
ernor returned. It opened his eyes ; and he soon put 
a stop to the terrible work. 

2. Phipps soon after went to England, where he 
died in 1691; the Earl of Bellamont being his suc- 
cessor. The Earl had for some time been governor 
of New York, and his administration in New England 
also proved quite popular. He did much service to 
our fishermen by destroying or driving off the petty 
pirates that preyed upon them. It was this governor 
who commissioned the notorious Captain Kidd to 
cruise against pirates ; but when Kidd himself turned 
pirate the Earl was the first to proceed against him. 



112 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^^^ 

The Earl of Bellamont was succeeded in 1703 by 
Joseph Dudley, a native of Massachusetts. Another 
war had now arisen between England and France; 
and Governor Dudley, wishing to keep the Indians 
from joining the French, invited them to meet him 
at Casco Neck. On the twentieth of June, 
1703, the day appointed for tlie meeting, the gov- 
ernor was on the spot with a retinue of members of 
the legislature, and a guard of soldiers; and around 
them gathered the delegates of live native tribes. 
The Pennacooks from New Hampshire, and the Soko- 
kis from the borders of Lake Sebago and the head 
w^aters of the Saco and Ossip.ee rivers, streamed out of 
the woods, radiant in war paint and feathers; the 
Canibas from Sagadaliock, Teconnet and Norridge- 
wock, and the Tarratines from lordly Penobscot, were 
there with scarlet robes and shining w^eapons; wdiile 
two iiundred and fifty Androscoggins glided over the 
bay in a flotilla of sixty-five canoes. In the midst of 
this savage concourse a tent was spread, where the 
governor and his attendants and the sachems and 
sagamores made their talk. 

3. The Indians seemed desirous of delaying the 
interview; and the English, suspicious of their inten- 
tions, scattered themselves among the savages for 
greater security. When all were seated the governor 
stood up, and said to the chiefs, "I have come to you 
commissioned by the great and good queen of Eng- 
land. I w^ould esteem you all as brothers and friends. 
Yes, it is even my wdsh to reconcile every difficulty 
that has happened since the last treaty." After a few 
miimtes of silence one of the chiefs named Captain 
Simnio made this rej^ly: — "We thank you, good 
brother, for coming so far to talk with us. It is a 
great favor. The clouds fly and darken, but we still 
sing with love the songs of peace. Beheve my words : 
so far as the sun is above the earth are our thoughts 
from war, or the least ruptm-e between us." 



1703 



WITCHCRAFT, PIRACIES AND TREATY. 113 



4. Then the chiefs presented the governor with a 
belt of wampnm, and the governor made them several 
handsome presents in return. The company then 
left the tents and visited two tall heaps of stones made 
at a former treaty, to which the Indians had given the 
significant name, Two Brothers. Other rocks were 
now added to the heaps, while the Indians made over 
them the most solemn protestations of friendship. 
The day closed by a grand discharge of musketry, the 
Indians firing first. It was now seen that their guns 
were loaded with bullets ; showing that they, too, had 
pre])ared themselves against a surprise. 

Many inhabitants of Maine, since the news of an- 
other war came, had decided to remove to safer 
regions; but, reassured by this treaty, they now con- 
cluded to remain; wdiile some from the older colonies 
southward, attracted by the excellent forests and the 
fertile soil, began to make preparations to settle in 
the province. 

5. It afterward became known that three days 
after the treaty a body of French joined the natives, 
— ^^vhich explained clearly why some of the Indians 
wislied to delay the talk. They were too late to pre- 
vent the making of the treaty, l)ut not too late for its 
breaking ; and within two months of Captain Simmo's 
sounding speech, the wampum pledge, and the pretty 
allegory of the "Two Brothers," these same tribes 
were in the full tide of war. Yet there had already 
been opportunity for a party of English to commit an 
outrage at Penobscot, Baron Castine had gone back 
to France, and his son known as ''Castine, the young- 
er," succeeded to the establisliment at Biguyduce. A 
lawless band, visiting the place under the mask of 
friendship, gained access to the premises, and robbed 
the unsuspecting half-breed of all his most valuable 
goods. 

6. Baron Castine, you remember, married the 
daughter of Madockawando, sachem of the Tarratines, 



114 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1703 

and, consequently, was himself a sacliem after the 
death of his father-in-law. When the Baron returned 
to his native country, his son succeeded to the cliieftain- 
ship; and at his father's death he became a baron 
of France. He was also a mihtary officer under the 
king, and had a handsome uniform; but he seldom 
wore it, preferring to appear in the simple dress of his 
tribe. He might have complained to the king of the 
outrage which had l)een committed upon him, and de- 
manded French troops to enable liim to obtain satis- 
faction of the English; or he might have roused his 
tribe to action to avenge his injuries; but instead of 
this the magnanimous chief only expostulated witli the 
Massachusetts rulers about the injustice of his treat- 
ment. The act was regarded by the government as 
base treachery; and the authorities promised to pun- 
ish the oifenders and to make ample restitution. Cas- 
tine, the younger, was ever the friend of peace; and 
though a portion of the Tarratines, urged by the 
French, engaged in hostilities against the English, they 
did so without his consent. We must here dismiss 
young Castine for the present, but he will again ap- 
pear in this history. 

What delusion occurred in New England during the second In- 
dian war ? What opened the eyes of Governor Phipps in regard 
to the delusion? Who succeeded Phipps as governor of New 
England ? What were the most noted occurrences during the ad- 
ministration of the Earl of Bellamout ? What war broke out in 
1703? What tribes engaged in the treaty ? With what ceremo- 
nies did the treat}" conclude ? How soon after this did the war 
break cut? What outrage was perpetrated just before ? Yv^hat 
can you relate of Castine, the younger ? 



^'^^^ QUEEN ANNE's WAR. 115 



CHAPTEE XIV. 

In August, 1703, the war witli tlie French and In- 
dians called Queen Anne's war commenced. Six or 
seven large parties of the enemy fell at once upon 
Wells, Cape Porpoise (Kennebunkport), Saco, Scar- 
borough, Spurwink and Purpooduck in Cape Elizabeth, 
and Casco Neck, now Portland. In this attack Wells 
lost thirty-nine killed and taken captive, while Cape 
Porpoise was wholly destroyed. The garrison at 
Winter Harbor was overpowered l)y numbers, but the 
fort at Saco was able successfully to resist the attack. 
At Scarborough, just as the garrison was almost ex- 
hausted, a reinforcement arrived ; and the savages 
withdrew, having already suffered severely. At Spur- 
wink twenty-two of the settlers were killed or taken 
captive. Purpooduck had no garrison, and there was 
not a man at home when the attack was made. Only 
eight persons were carried away prisoners, twenty-five 
being butchered on the spot. 

2. The first knowledge the garrison at Casco Neck 
had that Indians were in the vicinity, was the approach 
of a small party of them led by Moxus, Wanangonet 
and Assacombuit. They held out their empty hands 
to shov/ that they were unarmed, then sent a fiag of 
truce to the fort to invite the commander to an inter- 
viev/ ; pretending that they bore an important mes- 
sage. Captain March, the commander, went out with 
two old men to meet them. At the first word uttered 
every Indian drew a hatchet from under his mantle, 
and rushed upon them, Idlling the two old men at 
once ; but March, being a man of great courage and 
strength, wrested a hatchet from an Indian, with 
which he parried the blows of the others. In a few 
6 



116 HISTOEY OF MAINE. 1^03 

minutes a party from tlie fort reached the spot, and 
the savages ran awaj, leaving Captain March unharm- 
ed. The foe seemed quite disconcerted by the faihn-e 
of their plot to kill or capture the commander of the 
fort; yet they still continued in the neighborhood, 
burning houses and butchering cattle. On the return 
of the other parties from their work of destruction, 
they gathered at Falmouth ; and the attack on Fort 
Loyal commenced. They had captured three small 
vessels in the harbor, and were attempting to under- 
mine the fort as before, when fortunately Captain 
Southwick arrived in an armed galley. He at once 
retook the vessels, and scattered the Indians in their 
two hundred bux-hen canoes, hke leaves before the 
wind. 

3. The attack on the settlements so soon after the 
treaty, took tliem by surprise, and they suffered accord- 
ingly, more than one hundred and fifty persons having 
been killed within a few days. A troop of horse was 
now stationed at Portsmouth, and another in Wells, 
ready to move at a moment's notice wherever the sav- 
ages might appear ; wliile a force of three hundred and 
sixty men marched for Pigwacket (Fryeburg) and 
another party to the Ossipee Ponds in New Hamp- 
shire, to assail the savages at their headquarters.^ 
Still large numbers of Indians hung about the coast, 
capturing boats and small vessels, burning houses, 
butcliering cattle, and murdering and carrying away 
captives men, women and children. 

One morning a party of twenty men started out 
from the garrison at the E^eck in Scarborough to col- 
lect and drive in the cattle which had been left to 
feed where they liked through the summer. It was 
supposed that the Indians had all left the vicinity, and 
the party went on in utter carelessness. Their leader, 
Kichard Ilunniwell, had no arms whatever except a 
pistol. Soon after they left the garrison one of his 
companions asking him why he had not taken his gun, 



1703 QUEEN ANNE's WAR. 117 

lie jocosely replied, that if a gun was needed lie miglit 
take it from the first person killed. They little thought 
as they approached the western end of Great Pond 
tliat in the alder thicket beside it two hundred Indians 
were hidden ! But they were there ; and as the un- 
suspecting settlers passed by, the Indians took 
dehberate aim, and nineteen of the party fell before 
that fatal discharge. One alone escaped to the gar- 
rison to tell the dreadful story. 

4. The men who came to bury the bodies found 
that of Hunniwell liorribly mangled. The savages 
had in this way glutted their vengeance on the man 
they so much hated and feared ; for he had killed a 
great number of their people. His wife and child had 
some years before been murdered by them, kindling in 
his mind such enduring hatred that he would kill an 
Indian wherever he met him, in w^ar or peace. On 
one occasion he entered a house where two of them 
were warming at the fire. He could not keep quiet, 
but continued to pace the floor ; for his murdered 
wife and babe seemed before his eyes. Two guns 
stood in a corner of the room ; and he took up one 
of them, and putting it to his shoulder, moved it 
from side to side, as if taking aim at birds on the wing. 
Presently the Indians' heads came in range, and he 
fired and killed them both. 

Soon after the slaughter in Scarborough, the sav- 
ages attacked Berwick, but were repulsed \\ath con- 
siderable loss. Late in the season. Captain March 
with three hundred men penetrated the wilderness to 
the Indian stronghold at Pigwacket, where he made 
the first captures of this war, killing six of the enemy 
and taking prisoners six more. During the winter 
several private parties in Western Maine went out on 
snow shoes after Indians, but very few were taken. 
The Sokokis had gone far up into New Hampshire ; 
■from whence in February they fell upon Deerfield and 
other of the outermost settlements in Massachusetts. 



118 HISTORY OF MAIXE. 1704 

5. The following spring the farmers dared not go 
into their fields to plant, and the only cultivated places 
were the lands immediately around the garrisons. As 
Berwick was an important point, ninety-five Pequods 
and Mohegans from Connecticut were placed there for 
its protection. The Maine Indians were at first some- 
what frightened by these, but they soon became as 
bold as ever. 

In May some French privateers appeared upon the 
coast ; and the government again sent Colonel Church 
eastward with a force of five lumdred and fifty men in 
fourteen transports, having also thirty-six whaleboats 
and a scout shallop. Ascending the Penobscot, he 
captured several French and Indians, among whom 
was the wife of Castine, the younger, with her chil- 
dren. He next visited Passamaquoddy Bay, where 
he captured Gourdon andSharkee, two French officers 
who had married Indian wives; and who were at 
this time engaged in raising a party of savages to go 
against the settlements. 

From here Church proceeded with his flotilla to the 
Bay of Fundy, where he destroyed several villages of 
the French. Port Poyal was found too strong to be 
assailed successfully ; so he returned without attacking 
it, having taken an hundred prisoners and much spoil, 
and lost only six men. 

6. The Indians committed few depredations on the 
settlements during the remainder of the season ; for 
Church's expedition had driven them away from the 
coast to their winter fastnesses at the head of the 
rivers. In the midst of the winter a force of two hun- 
dred and seventy men under Capt. Hilton was sent 
against Norridgewock. The snow w^as four feet deep, 
and the troops Avere obhged to travel almost the wdiole 
distance on snow shoes. But the Indians discovered 
their approach, and when the force arrived they found 
the village deserted. So they turned back again; and 
after enduring many hardships, reached their starting 



1707 QUEEN ANNE's WAR. 119 

point without loss ; yet having accompHshed nothing 
except the burning of the Indian village. 

Through the summer and autumn of the next year 
[1705] the French privateers still haunted our coast, 
taking many of our vessels ; while the Indians were 
continually in ambush about the settlement, where 
they were too successful in killing and capturing the 
poor, distressed inhabitants. 

Thus the war continued for two years more ; the 
savages lurking about, killing and capturing a few un- 
wary persons, and keeping the settlers from working 
their farms. 

7. In January of 1707 Colonel Hilton marched to- 
ward Casco in search of a body of Indians who had been 
seen about the settlement. Striking a trail, they soon 
came upon four warriors, and a squaw Avith her 
pappoose. The squaw in her fright told where 
eighteen other Indians lay asleep ; and Hilton with 
his men, coming upon them suddenly, killed or cap- 
tured every one. 

In the summer another expedition consisting of 
one thousand men under Colonel March was sent 
against Acadia in the expectation of subduing it to the 
English. He w^as unsuccessful, and Maine soon had 
to sutler in consequence ; for the triumph of the French 
encouraged the Indians to renewed depredations. 
Yet they met with no very brilliant success. The 
most noted engagement of the year was at Winter 
Harbor, where one Imndred and fifty Indians in fifty 
canoes, attacked two sail boats in Avhich were eight men 
belonging in the garrison and settlement. After a fight 
of three hours the Indians succeeded in capturing one 
boat, and kiUing one man ; but they lost nine of their 
own men and had several others wounded. 

In the two following years very little damage was 
done by the Inchans, except in hindering the cultiva- 
tion of the land, lumbering and other industrial opera- 
tions. Steps were taken on both sides to bring about 



120 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1710 

a peace, yet no treaty was made ; for the Indians 
paid little attention to treaty obligations, if inclined to 
war. 

8. In the spring of 1710, a fleet with a regiment of 
mariners arrived from England to aid in the conquest 
of Acadia. To these were joined regiments of 
troops from l^ew England, the whole force being un- 
der the command of General jS^icholson. The pro- 
vince was unable to withstand such an armament as this ; 
and, after one day's bombardment. Port Royal sur- 
rendered, and Subercase, the French governor, yield 
ed up his province. By this easy victory the whole of 
Acadia fell into the hands of the English, ever after to 
remain in their possession as New Scotland ; being 
divided, many years later, into the provinces of New 
Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Major Livingston, a 
brave young officer, was at once sent to Canada to in- 
form the governor of that country of the English pos- 
session of Acadia, and that tlie inhabitants were ac- 
counted prisoners of w^ar, and would be treated as such 
unless the French ceased to incite the savages to hos- 
tilities against the English. Livingston journeyed by 
the way of the Penobscot, and thence by land through 
the unbroken wilderness to the St. Lawi*ence. With 
him went that friend of peace, Castine, the younger, 
to guard him against savage rage, and to procure guides 
and supplies. 

Yet neither this event, nor the desire of some of 
their chiefs for peace, prevented large numbers of the 
Indians from continuing their treacherous warfare. 
Therefore on his way home from the conquest of Aca- 
dia, Colonel Walton with one hundred and seventy 
men scoured the coast in search of savages. At Sa- 
gadahock he captured a sagamore and his family and 
some of his tribe. Soon after, another message came 
from the Indians, desiring peace ; yet parties of them 
still continued to maraud. The next year twenty-six 
persons were killed in Maine, by attacking solitary 



1713 QUEEN ANNE's WAR. 121 

families, or waylaying venturesome travelers. Their 
last hostile act in this war was in the autumn of 1712, 
at Wells. 

9. On that day a joyous company were gath- 
ered at the home of Captain Wheelwi-ight, to ^vitness 
the weddino; of his daus:liter with youno- Plaisted of 
Portsmouth. The ceremony was over, guests made 
their gratulations, and were preparing to depart, when 
it was found that two of the horses were missing. Sev- 
eral persons started in search of them, but, going near 
the place where the Indians were in ambush, two of 
them were shot down and others made prisoners. 
The report of the guns informed the neighborliood of 
the presence of Indians ; and a dozen men started 
across lots from the garrison to intercept the enemy, 
while Captains Lane, Robinson and Hurd, with the 
bridegroom and several others, vaulted upon the re- 
maining steeds and galloped eagerly to the rescue. 
In a few minutes these, also, fell into an ambush. 
Captain Robinson was killed outright, and the others 
were unhorsed ; but every one of them, except the 
now unhappy bridegroom succeeded in escaping. In 
the mansion where a few moments before peace and 
happiness had reigned supreme, was now consterna- 
tion and rage, the wailing of widowed women, and the 
anguish of the lovely bride. After a few days, how- 
ever, the bridegroom regained his liberty ; but it cost 
his father three Inmdred pounds, as a ransom. 

10. In 1713, peace was made between England and 
France, by the celebrated treaty of Utrecht ; and now 
no longer incited and aided by the French, the Indians 
sought peace in earnest. Accordingly on the eleventh 
of July, the governor, with twenty councilors and 
many other gentlemen, met the delegates of the hos- 
tile tribes at Portsmouth in 'New Hampshire. The 
Indians acknowledged their offence, and begged for the 
pardon and favor of the English. Then a written 
treaty was made, by which the Lidians agreed to yield 



122 HISTOKY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

to tlie Englisli settlers all the lands occupied by tliem, 
and to observe the regulations which had been made 
by former treaties in regard to trading, hunting and 
fishing. Each sagamore signed the document by 
making the figure of the quadruped, bii'd or fish, which 
was the totem of his family. 

When the ceremonies were over, some of the au- 
thorities went to Casco Bay, where they found Moxus, 
a Penobscot sagamore, with a large body of Lidians 
waiting to learn about the treaty. It was read aloud 
to them by the EngUsh, and explained by the interpre- 
ters ; and when the reading was finished the Indians 
huzzaed in approval. Then the English authorities 
distributed to them the usual presents. The next day 
Moxus came to the English desiring more ; saying that 
the young Indianshad stolen the presents away. This 
was very strange ; for the Indians, especially the 
younger men, always treat their sagamores with the 
greatest respect. Yet Moxus did not sign the treaty, 
though he pretended to be cliief sagamore of the tribes 
from Penobscot to St. Croix ; but the English knew 
him to be a very subtle Indian, and did not believe his 
statements at all. 

Upon what places did the Indians make a simultaneous attack ? 
What treacherous attempt did they make at Fort Loyal ? What 
afterward happened at Scarborough? Who were the next 
year stationed for the defense of Berwick ? Where was Colonel 
Church sent the next year ? Where was Capt. Hilton sent the 
next winter ? V/hat was done by the French and Indians in the 
two years following ? What was the result of Colonel March's 
expedition against Acadia? Who commanded the expedition 
against Acadia in 1710 ? How long thereafter did the country 
remain in possession of the English ? 



^^17 loyewell's war commences. 123 



CHAPTER XY. 

1. As soon as Queen Anne's war was over there 
was a rush of settlers to Maine ; and mills began to be 
built and villages to spring up all along the coast from 
Piscataqua to Penobscot. This was very pleasing to 
the Enghsh ; but the Indians watched with jealousy 
the damming up of the rivers and the destruction of 
the woods, by which their hunting and fishing grounds 
v\^ere continually narrowed. The French Jesuits, who 
resided among the natives, were ever watchful for the 
interests of France, and used every occasion to em- 
bitter the minds of Indians against the English. The 
natives did not understand the nature of the writings 
called "deeds," believing that their forefathers, in giv- 
ing them, had intended . only to convey the use of 
tlie lands during then* own hfetime ; therefore the 
Jesuits easily persuaded them that every new fort, 
mill, or dwelling was an intrusion upon then' rights. 

2. An English society for the education of the 
heathen had before attempted to give the Indians 
some rehgious instruction; and the General Court of 
Massachusetts now voted to pay seven hundred and 
fifty dollars annually for missions to the Indians, with 
board and lodging for the missionaries. So there 
were at various times missionaries on the Androscog- 
gin river at Brunswick, at Fort Halifax on the Ken- 
nebec, at St. Georges and Penobscot ; while provision 
was also made for a school master to reside at Bruns- 
wick, and fifty dollars were voted for books and re- 
wards for the young Indians who might become his 
pupils. It was thought best as a matter of duty to 
remove, if possible, the false teaching of the Jesuits; 
and it was also beheved that this would be the best 



124 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^"^^ 

irietliocl of pacifying the Indians. According to 
Bomazeen, a sacliem of JSTorridgewock, the priest of 
that place had instructed the Indians that "the Yirgin 
Mary was a French lady, and that her son, Jesiis 
Christ, was murdered bj the Enghsh, but had since 
risen and gone to Heaven; and that all who would 
gain his favor must avenge his blood." Perhaps the 
wily chief spoke falsely, but the English behoved him. 

3. This provision for missionaries was made in 
1717; and the next year Governor Shute with his 
council met the natives at Arrowsic. The governor 
presented the sagamores with an English Bible, and 
another translated into the Indian tongue, telling them 
that they contained the true religion. 

"All people love their own ministers," said the chief 
speaker, in reply. " Your bibles we do not care to 
keep. God has given us teaching, and if we go from 
that we offend God." 

It was found that they could not be moved from 
their devotion, to the Jesuits; and the remainder of 
the discussions were on the land rights of the English 
and Indians. A part of the Indian talk made on this 
occasion was nearly as follows : — 

4. "Indians and white men have one Great Father. 
He has given every trilje of us a goodly river, which 
jaelds us line salmon and other fish. The borders of 
our rivers are Avide and pleasant. Here, from ancient 
time, our people have hunted the bear, the moose and 
the beaver. It is our own country, where our fathers 
died, where ourselves and our children were born ; — 
we cannot leave it. The Indian has riglits and loves 
good as well as the Englishman; — yes, we have a 
sense, too, of what is Idnd and great. When you first 
came over the waters of the morning we took you into 
our arms. We thought you children of the sun, and 
we fed you with our best meat, l^evcr went a white 
man cold and starving from the cabin of an Indian. 
Bo we not speak truth ? But you have retm-ned us 



i''!^ lovewell's war commences. 125 

evil for good. You put the burning cup to our lips; 
it filled our veins witli poison ; it wasted tlie pride of 
our strength. Ay, and when the drunken fit was on 
us, you took advantage — you made gains of us. You 
made our beaver cheap, then you paid us in watered 
rum and trifles. We shed your blood; w^e avenged 
your aflTronts. Then you promised us equal trade and 
good commodities. Have Christian Englishmen lived 
up to their engagements ? 

They asked leave of our fathers to live in the land 
as brothers. It was freely granted. The earth is for 
the Hfe and the range of man. AVe are told that our 
country, spreading far av\'ay from the sea, is passing 
av/ay to you forever, — perhaps for nothing, because of 
the names and seals of our sagamores. Such deeds 
be far from them. They never turned their children 
from then' homes to suffer. Their hearts were too 
full of love and kindness, — their souls were too great. 
Whither shall we go ? There is no land so much our 
own, — none can be half so dear to us. Why should 
we flee before our destroyers ? We fear them not. 
Sooner, far, will we sing the war song, and again, 
light up our council fires. So shall the great spirits 
of our sires own -their sons." 

5. Yet the old men and many others were opposed 
to war at this time ; for the}^ feared to l)e driven away 
from their cornfields and their pleasant villages, to 
undergo the sufl'erings of a wandering life. So they 
promised to inquire into the injuries committed by 
their brethren, and presented the English with a lot 
of beaver skins, as a pledge of their fidelity. They 
also placed four young Indians in their hands to be 
held as hostages for the good behavior of the tribes; 
and these were taken to Boston and educated. 

Three years later nmety canoes of Indians came 
early in the month of August to Sagadahock. They 
bore the French flag, and were well armed and clad. 
There were also several Frenchmen with them, among 



126 HISTOEY OF MAINE. ^^21 

whom were Castine, the younger, and the Jesuit, 
Ealle. The leaders of this company visited Arrowsic 
and dehvered to Captain Penhallow, in the name of 
the tribes, a message w^arning the settlers on that 
river that if they did not remove in three weeks the 
Indians would come and destroy their cattle, burn 
their houses and kill them all; "for," said they, "you 
have taken away the lands which the Great God has 
given to our fathers and us." 

6. This, no doubt, meant war; and immediate 
measures were taken for defence. The Indians did 
not immediately come to put their threat into execu- 
tion, but, as usual, w^atched for a favorable moment. 
In December a force was sent under Colonel West- 
brook to Norridgewock, to capture Ralle, who was the 
chief instigator of the savages against the English. 
They reached the place undiscovered, for the braves 
were mostly away on their winter hunt; but before 
the soldiers could surround the village, Ralle had es- 
caped to the woods. Xo blood was shed or captive 
taken by this expedition; but the troops brought 
away a dictionary of the Abnaki language, A\Titten by 
the Jesuit, the result of many years of study. 

7. Castine, the younger, having been in the com- 
pany wdiich made the threats against the Sagadaliock 
settlements, Avas soon after seized and carried to Bos- 
ton, where he was kept a prisoner several months; 
but as no evidence could be found against his peaceful 
character, he was set at hberty in the spring. The 
government at this time sent presents and peace- 
ful messages to the tribes, in the hope of softening 
their feelings toward the English, in order to avert, if 
possible, the threatened destruction of the settlements. 

All means proved useless; for in June, 1722, the 
savages fell upon the settlement on the northern shore 
of Merrymeeting Bay, kilhng or carrying away 
into captivity nine entire famihes. They soon after 
attempted to surprise the fort at St. George's River, 



1722 LOVEWELL's WAR COMMENCES. 127 

but only succeeded in l)urning a sloop and taking a 
few prisoners. In July another attack was made on 
tlie same fort, under the lead of a E-omish priest. 
This time they undermined a portion of the walls; 
but a rain caused the banks of the trench to fall in 
upon them ; and, having lost twenty of their number, 
wliile the garrison lost only five, they gave up the siege 
and retired. The savages were now on the war path 
in all directions; and vessels were captured, houses 
burned, and settlers murdered or carried into captivity 
from every quarter. 

8. About the middle of July, 1722, Fort George, 
in Brunswick, Avas attacked, and the village burned. 
The news reached the mouth ot tlie Kennebec within 
a few hours, and Captain Harmon with thirty-four 
men immediately started up the river in pursuit of the 
perpetrators. Late in the night they discovered fires 
on the western shore of Merrymeeting Bay, in what 
is now the town of Topsliam. They happened to land 
at the very spot where eleven canoes were drawn 
ashore. They ran directly to one of the fires, and, 
blinded by the light, actually stumbled over the sleep- 
ing savages. They had been torturing a prisoner, and 
had kept up their dancing and carousing until a late 
hour, and were now in a drunken, stupid sleep ; and 
the whole numl^er were killed on the s]>ot without the 
loss of a man to the English. Another party, lying 
at a little distance from the first, were aroused by the 
tumult; but after firing a few guns, they fled into tlie 
woods and escaped. 

9. In September four or five hundred warriors, 
chiefiy St. Francis Indians from Canada, and Mic- 
macs from l^ova Scotia, made a sudden descent upon 
Arrowsic. The garrison was prepared for them, 
and in a few days drove them from the island ; but in 
the meantime they had killed fifty head of cattle and 
burned twenty-six houses. 

In August, 1723, sixty-three Mohawks, including 



128 mSTOKY OF MAINE. 1"23 

many principal men, came to Boston in response to 
numerous invitations from tlie authorities, to make a 
treaty against tlie eastern Indians. They were re- 
ceived by the Lieutenant Governor, who presented 
them with a belt of wampum ; and they, in return, 
gave him pieces of plate curiously engraved T\ith the 
figures of a turtle, bear, wolf, hatchet and other fig- 
ures — totems of their several tribes. The authorities 
also gave the Indians a fat ox, which they killed with 
theii' arrows ; and then they held a feast, which closed 
with songs and dances. 

10. The tribes could not be induced to take up the 
hatchet, but gave their young men hberty to enter the 
service of the English; yet only two accepted the 
ofier. These were sent to Fort Richmond, on the 
Kennebec. A few days after their arrival they were 
sent out on a scout in company with a small party of 
English. They had gone scarcely three miles when 
the tvv'o Mohawks said they smelt lire, and refused to 
go further without a reinforcement. A messenger 
went back to the fort and brought thirteen more men ; 
and, again advancing, they came upon thirty of the 
enemy. In the brief conflict that ensued, two of these 
were killed; while the remainder retreated to their 
canoes in such haste as to leave their packs on the 
ground. The English lost their leader, Sergeant 
Colby, killed, and two others, wounded. But the Mo- 
hawks had already become sick of the service, and 
soon after this affair returned to Boston. 

11. In September, 1723, Colonel AYestbrook was 
sent eastward with two hundi-ed and thirty men in 
search of the enemy. He ascended the Penobscot 
river in boats to the vicinity of Marsh Bay, where he 
landed, and continued up the river through the 
woods. After four or five days they came upon a 
large fort not far from the present site of tlie city of 
Bangor. They entered it without resistance, finding 
it abandoned, and every article of value removed. 



^"23 , LOVEWELL's war COMMENCES. 129 

The fort was found to be seventy yards in length by 
fifty in breadth ; the walls, which were fourteen feet 
high, consisting of stockades, or strong wooden stakes 
driven into the ground. Inside the walls were twenty- 
three good wigwams, the dweUing of the priest, and a 
chapel twenty by sixty feet in size, and handsomely 
furnished. Committing these to the flames, they re- 
turned down the river, and searched other parts of the 
coast with no better success. 

12. The next year the Indians killed and carried 
into captivity from twenty to tliirty persons ; four men 
and three children l)eing captured at one time while 
engaged in picking berries in the town of Scarbor- 
ough. There were skirmishes at Casco Neck, and on 
the Kennebec ; and the Indians made another fruitless 
attack on the fort at St. George's River. 

In the winter a third expedition was sent to ITor- 
ridgewock under Captain Moulton to capture Kalle. 
Again he escaped them ; but they secured his books 
and papers, and retired without doing any further 
injury. Among these papers were letters from the 
governor of Canada directing the Jesuit "to push on 
the Indians with all imaginable zeal against the 
English." 

13. The fort on St. George's River, being the 
most advanced post of the settlers received the par- 
ticular hatred of the savages, and the attacks it suffer- 
ed during the war were both frequent and severe. It 
was on a beautiful May morning in 1T21 that Captain 
Josiah Winslow, the young commander, set out from 
the fort with sixteen men in two whale boats, — pro- 
ceeding down the river, and thence to the Green Isl- 
ands in Penobscot Bay. It was the season for fowl- 
ing, and they expected to find Indians somewhere on 
the route, snaring or shooting sea-fowl. None were 
discovered, however; and the party returned the next 
day to St. Georges'. But the wary savages had seen 
their hunters, and now lay in ambush along the bank 



130 HISTOKY OF MAINE. 1^24 

of the river. Captain Winslow's boat was near the 
middle of the river, and some distance in advance, the 
other having lingered, against the request of Winslow, 
to look for ducks along the shore. Suddenly the In- 
dians opened fire upon the imprudent crew, but it was 
briskly returned. Captain Winslow, seeing that the 
crew was outnumbered and in great danger, turned 
back to their assistance. 

14. Thirty canoes containing ninety savages im- 
mediately shot out from the shore, and with a terrible 
whoop fell upon the devoted crews. The Enghsli 
saw that there was no hope of escape, and every man 
determined to sell his life dearly. In a brief time 
nearly all were dead or mortally wounded. Wins- 
low's boat had floated ashoj-e, and he sprang upon the 
bank, though his thigh was shattered by a ball. An 
Indian met him, and for a few moments they fought 
hand to hand ; but Winslow beat off his foe. By this 
time the savages v/ere pressing upon liim from all 
sides; but the brave young soldier killed another, sup- 
porting himself on one knee, before they could dis- 
patch liim. 

Did the natives fully understand how their lands had become 
the property of the English ? What threat did a party of sav- 
ages make at Arrowsic ? What did the government do the next 
spring? How many families did the Indians take captive on 
Merrymeeting Bay? At what date was Brunswick burned? 
Where did Capt. Harmon find the Indians ? What tribes made an 
attack on Arrowsic in September ? What did Col. Westbrook find 
near the present site of Bangor ? What was accomplished by the 
third expedition to Norridgewock ? Give an account of the fight 



1''2^ DESTKUCTION OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 131 



CHAPTER XYI. 

1. In the summer of 1724 another and final expe- 
dition was sent against Norridgewock. It was led by 
Captains Moulton, Harmon, Bourne and Bane; and 
consisted of two hnndred and eight men. This force 
left the fort at Richmond on the nineteenth day of 
August, ascending the river in seventeen whale boats. 
The next day they arrived at Teconet, where they left 
their boats with a guard of forty men. The remain- 
der of the journey must have been made on the east- 
ern bank of the river, and they consequently passed 
the site of the village of Skowhegan in the forenoon 
of the twenty-second day of the month. At a little 
past noon they discerned the smoke of the Indian set- 
tlement. Captain Harmon with sixty men made a detour 
towards the cornfields opposite and above the mouth of 
Sandy River, wdiile Captain Moulton with the residue 
of the troops went directly towards the village. They 
moved in the utmost stillness, noting the w^Igwams, the 
chapel, the dwelling of the priest, the trees marked by 
hatchets, the broad stones tossed by the Indians in 
their sports; but there was not a human being in 
sight. They were within pistol shot of the cabins, 
wTien an Indian looked out and saw them. Instantly 
he gave the war whoop, and sixty warriors sprang out 
to meet the English. 

2. The first volley of the savages did not harm a 
man, but the guns of the English made fearful havoc. 
The Indians stayed only to fire a second volley, then 
rushed to the river. Some jumped into the canoes, in 
wdiicli they tried to escape, using their guns for pad- 
dles, while others attempted to ford or swim across. 
Still from two wigwapis shots contiimed to be fired 



132 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^724 

upon the soldiers. One of the two Mohawks with the 
expedition fell, and his brother rushed forward and 
broke in the door wdience the shot came. Within was 
an old sagamore nam.ed Mogg, who, scorning to fly, 
devoted the remnant of his strength to destroy the 
foes of his race. In the other wigwam was Ralle, the 
Jesuit; and he also fell lighting at his post, being 
shot through the head by Lieutenant Jaques. 

3. Thus died the zealous and intrepid missionary 
of the Abnakis. lie was in the sixty-seventh year of 
his age, aud had hved at this village nearly tliirty-five 
years. In this solitary place his hours, he whites, 
w^ere crov/ded witli employment. Mass was held 
every morning, and following this the children and 
others were instructed in the catecliism. His own 
household labors occupied a large portion of the re- 
maining hours until evening ; when the dusky congre- 
gation again gathered for vespers. The scene is well 
described by Whittier in these lines: — 

"Well might the traveisr stop to see 
The tall, dark forms that take their way 
From the birch canoe on the river shore, 
And the forest paths, to that chapel door ; 
And marvel to mark the naked knees 
And the dusky foreheads bending there, 
While in coarse white vesture, over these 
In blessing or in prayer, 
Stretching abroad his thin, pale hands, 
Like a shrouded ghost the Jesuit stands." 

4. To him came the Indians, old and young, to 
make their complaints, to tell of their joys and sor- 
rows, or to receive liis advice — which they always 
heeded; for they loved him as a father. Their affec- 
tion for him is shown by this incident, narrated by him- 
self: — Once when encamped with a party of the 
tribe at a long distance from the village, there came 
tidings that the English were near; and all immedi- 



l^'^i DESTRUCTION OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 133 

ately startocl for horns. A few hours later another 
Indian came to warn the party. Fmding the camp 
deserted, he conchided that the Enghsli had captured 
them ; and he, also, started for the village, leavhig on 
the way information of the supposed calamity for those 
who might come after. He did this by fastening to a 
stake a piece of Avhite birch bark, 'on which he had 
drawn with charcoal a rude picture of some English- 
men surrounding a priest, one of whom was in the act 
of cutting off his liead — hats signifying that the wear- 
ers were Eno;lish, and the Ions: rol)e indicating; the 
priest. Shortly after, a party of Indians passing up 
the river, saAV the bark on the top of the stake. 

"There is a writing," said one ; "let us see what it is." 

5. As soon as they looked at it they cried out, "Ah ! 
the English have killed them who were quartered with 
our father, and cut off his head." Immediately they 
began to pluck out their long hair; and, sitting down 
on the spot, remained motionless and silent until 
morning. This was their customary form of mourning 
when suffering the severest affliction. The next day 
they resumed their journey. When within half a 
league of the village they halted, and sent forward one 
of their number to see if any English were in the 
neighborhood 

"I was reading my breviary by the river side," says 
Ralle, "when the messenger appeared upon the oppo- 
site bank. As soon as he saw us he cried out : 'Ah ! 
my father, how glad I am to see you. My heart was 
dead, and now that I see you, it revives. Tiie writing 
told us that the English had cut off your head. Hov/ 
rejoiced I am that it told us false.' " 

When the Indians urged him to retire to Quebec 
till the war was over, he replied, "What do you think 
of me ? Do you take me for a cowardly deserter ? 
Alas, what would become of your religion, should I 
abandon you ? Your salvation is dearer to me than 
life." 



134 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^24 

6. 1^0 1 withstanding all his piety, he could coolly 
deceive them to secure their devotion to his reliction. 
My young friends will remember what the old chief 
said tlie priest taught them about the Yirgin Mary 
being a French woman, and about our Saviour being- 
put to death by tiie English. On another occasion 
Ralle pretended to have received a letter from an In- 
dian who was dead, in which he wrote that he was 
burning in the most Iiorrible fire; and he showed 
them a letter written in the Indian tons^ue. Tlie cor- 
ner where the signature should have been was torn 
off; for if the name of a deceased relative of any 
member of the tribe had been given, there w^ould have 
been trouble between the priest and that family. 

In regard to this remarkable character, Mr. Sparks 
says, "So far as the patient toils of the missionary and 
love for the darkened soul of the Indian are concern- 
ed, we may place the names of EHot and Kalle in a 
fellowship, which, indeed, both would, have rejected, 
but which we may regard as hallowed and true ; for 
they both belonged to the goodly company of those 
who have given their lives to the beautiful labors of 
pious benevolence. 

7. "Whoever has visited the pleasant town of ISTor- 
ridgewock, as it now is, must have heard of "Indian 
Old Point," as the people call the place where Kalle's 
village stood ; and perhaps curiosity has carried him 
hither. If so, he has found a lovely, sequestered spot 
in the depth of nature's stillness, on a point around 
which the waters of the Kennebec sweep in their 
beautiful course, as if to the music of the rapids above ; 
a spot over wdiich the sad memories of the past, with- 
out its passions, will throw a charm; and where, he 
will believe, the ceaseless worship of nature might 
blend itself with the aspirations of christian devotion. 

He will find that vestiores of the old settlement are 
not wanting, in the form of hatchets, glass beads, and 
broken utensils, turned up by the plough, and pre- 



I72i 



DESTKUCTION OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 



135 



served by tlie people of tlie neigliborliood ; and lie 
will turn away from the place feeling how hateful is 
the mad spirit of war in connection with nature's 
sweet retirements." 




^^'&c/>/cHA/iDSO« sr ■•=-, 



MONUMENT OF RALLE, NOERIDGEWOCK. 



8. But I must return to my narrative, though feel- 
ing as if T should ask pardon of my gentle readers, for 
l)ringhig them again to the horrors of the bloody bat- 
tle Held. Cciptahi Harmon and his party, who had 
gone in the direction of the cornfields, did not join the 
other troops until near evening, when the fighting 
Avas quite over. That night the English slept in the 
wigwams of the Norridgewocks. In the morning, 
after the troops had left the village, the vengeful Mo- 
hawk turned back; and soon chapel and v/igwam 
were wrapped in flame. 

On the twenty-seventh of the month the companies 



136 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1"24 

arrived at Ri(*liiiiond on tlieir return; tlie Mohawk 
shot by Mogg bemg the only man lost. Thirty 
Indians had been left dead on the field, among 
whom were five sagamores — all noted warriors; and 
it was beheved that more than fifty were killed or 
drowned in the river. The Canibas tribe never lifted 
its head after this blow, and was no more counted 
among the red man's nations. The remnant lingered 
a while about their old dwelhng places on the banks 
of their pleasant river ; but not many years later most 
of them removed to the St. Francis, whither their 
kindred tribe, the fated Wawennocks, had gone before 
them. 

In what year was the final expedition against Norridgewock ? 
Who led the attack upon the village ? How long had Ralle been 
with this tribe ? What incident shows their regard for him ? 
What deceptions did he use with the Indians ? Who set the vil- 
lage on fire ? What became of the remnant of this tribe ? 



CHAPTER XYII. 

1. In the autumn following the fall of Norridge- 
wock Colonel Westbrook with three hundred men 
scoured the country to the eastward of the Kennebec, 
and Captain Heath soon after ascended the Penob- 
scot; but neither met with the Indians or destroyed 
any of their settlements. 

In December, and again in February, Captain Love- 
well made successful excursions into the region north 
and east of Winnipesaukee Lake; and in April, 1725, 



1725 LOVEWELL's FIGHT. 137 

he set out on tlie expedition which terminated in the 
famous "Lovewell's Fight." 

It was on the sixteenth of April that Captain Love- 
well with forty-six volunteers set out from Dunstable, 
Massachusetts, to hunt for Indians about the head- 
waters of the Saco Kiver, which was the home of the 
Sokokis. The chief pilot was an Indian named Toby ; 
but he was obliged to return on account of lameness. 
After marching about one hundred miles another of 
the party became disabled by reason of an old wound; 
and his kinsman was sent with him l)ack to the settle- 
ment. By the time the force reached Ossipee Pond, 
in New Hampshire, another man fell seriously ill ; and 
the whole company stopped there and built a small 
stockade fort. Here they left the sick man, with the 
surgeon and eight of the most weary ones ; so that 
there now remained only thirty-four men, including 
the captain, to continue the march. About twenty- 
two miles to the northeast lay the body of water now 
known as Lovewell's Pond, in Fryeburg; and thither 
this brave little band took its wa}^ 

2. On the night of tlie seventh of May they en- 
camped by a brook that runs into the pond near the 
northwest corner; while only two miles northward, on 
the bank of the Saco, was Pigwacket, the principal 
village of the Sokokis. The next morning while they 
were at prayers the report of a gun was heard. Pass- 
ing another small brook, they came upon a level plain 
at the north of the pond, and discovered an Indian 
standing on a pomt that ran into the pond on the 
east. It was now believed that the savages had dis- 
covered them, and that this lone Indian was a decoy 
to draw them into an aml)ush. Captain Lovewell 
inquired of his little company wliether it was pru- 
dent to venture an engagement with the enemy in his 
own country, or -to make a speedy retreat. One of 
them answered boldly and firmly, "We came out to 
meet the enemy; we have all along prayed God we 



138 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^25 

miglit meet tliem; and we had rather trust Providence 
with our lives, — yea, die for our country, than try to 
return without seeing them, if we may, — and be called 
coiaards for our pains." To this the rest willingly 
and fully assented. 

Therefore, leaving their packs among the brakes in 
the midst of the plam, they went cautiously forward, 
crossing on their way another stream, since known as 
^'Battle Brook." In a short time they met the Indian 
returning toward the village. Several lired upon him, 
and he instantly fired in return, wounding Captain 
Love well and one of the men; but Ensign Wyman 
lired and killed him. In the meantime a party of sav- 
ages led by Paugus and Wahwa, going, or returning 
between the village and the pond, had come upon the 
packs which were left on the plain; and, counting 
them, they found themselves three times as strong as 
the Enghsh. 

3. It was now about ten o'clock; and Lovewell's 
party turned back in the way they came. They 
passed over the brook and were crossing the plain to 
resume their packs, when the savages rose in front 
and rear, and rushed toward them with guns present- 
ed, and yelling like demons. Love well and his men 
with determined shouts ran to meet them. In the 
volley that followed many Indians fell, and they were 
driven back several rods. They turned again with 
tierce cries ; and three more rounds were lired at close 
quarters, some of the combatants being not more than 
twice the length of their guns apart. ■ Captain Love- 
well was mortally wounded; but, leaning against a 
tree, he continued to hght; and he was seen with a 
gun in his hands ready to lire, when he was too far 
gone to speak. Others did the same. 

4. Eight were now dead besides the captain, and 
several others badly wounded ; and the enemy at- 
tempted to surround those who remained. Ensign 
Wyman, who had taken command, ordered them to 



^725 loyewell's fight. 139 

fall back to the pond ; wliicli was done in good order. 
On tlieir right was Battle Brook, on the left, a rocky 
point; in front, on one side a belt of tall pines aiforded 
a partial shelter, while on the other they were further 
protected by a deep bog. Here for eight terrible 
hours the savages beset them on front and flank. 
They howled like wolves, they barked like dogs, they 
roared and yelled like demons in their rage ; yet the 
intrepid little band was not dismayed, but encouraged 
each other with cheers, and answered the savages with 
shouts of defiance. 

5. The chaplain of this brave company was Johna- 
than Frye, a youth not yet twenty-one, but already 
greatly beloved for his piety and excellence. He had 
fought bravely with the rest until the middle of the 
afternoon, vrhen he received a mortal wound. Unable 
to fight longer, he betook himself to prayer for his 
comrades; — and God, v/e know, has sometimes made 
prayers more effectual than arms. At one time in 
the afternoon the savages withdrew to a little distance, 
and seemed to be "powwowing"; and Ensign Wyman 
crept up and fired into tlie group, killing one who 
seemed to be a leader. Afterward some of the In- 
dians came toward the English and held up ropes, 
shouting, "Will you have quarter?" 

"Yes, — at the muzzle of our guns," replied the he- 
roic men. They preferred to die by bullets rather 
than by torture, or in a cruel captivity; but, chiefly, 
they were determined to stand by each other to the 
last. 

6. The fight was long, and some of their guns be- 
came foul with so much firing; and John Chamber- 
lain went down to the water to wash his piece. Just 
then an Indian came down for the same purpose, not 
more than a gunshot off. In hate and fear they 
watched each other's motions as the cleansing was 
performed. They finished together, and commenced 
to load. 



140 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^"25 

"Quick me kill you now," exclaimed the Indian. 

"May be not," answered Chamberlain, thumping 
the breech of his gun heavily on the ground. His old 
flintlock primed itself, and a moment later his bullet 
crashed through the brain of the huge savage, whose 
bullet wliistled harmlessly up in the air. Many histo- 
ries state that this Indian was Paugus, a chief greatly 
dreaded by the English. There is, however, a ballad 
written at the period, which says : — 

"And yet our valiant Englishmen 

In fight were ne'er dismayed, 
But still they kept their motion, 
• And "Wymau captain made, — 
AYho shot the old chief, Paugus, 

Which did the foe defeat ; 
Then set his men in order, 

And brought off the retreat." 

7. There was no way of escape from the spot as 
long as the foe hung about them; and they were en- 
tirely without food since the morning — the Indians 
having secured their packs; yet never a word of sur- 
render escaped their lips. Just before dark the sav- 
ages retired from the field, taking with them their own 
wounded, but leaving the dead bodies of Lovewell's 
men unscalped. The English remained on the ground 
until al)0ut midnio-ht, when it was thouo'ht best to at- 
tempt a retreat. Ten of their number were already 
dead, fourteen wounded, one missing, and only nine 
uninjured. Solomon Kies, exhausted by fatigue and 
loss of blood from three wounds, had craAvled slowly 
and painfully to the edge of the pond, with the inten- 
tion of throwing himself into the water at some spot 
where the savao-es would not find and manole his life- 
less body. Providentially he spied a birch canoe near 
by, which lie managed to enter; and, lying there 
almost unconscious, he was slowly drifted by the wind 
to the western side of the pond. After a while he 



1725 LOVEWELL's FIGHT. 141 

recovered his strength a, httle, so that he finally reach- 
ed the fort at Ossipee Pond. 

8. Painful as it was, two of the mortally wounded 
had to be left. When the moon rose the others start- 
ed on the retreat ; but, after traveling a mile and a 
half, four more sank to the ground unable to support 
themselves longer. These were Lieutenant Farwell, 
Chaplain Frye, and privates Davis and Jones; and, 
at their request, then- companions went on without 
them. After resting awhile they felt stronger, and 
went on again a little distance, then rested again ; and 
thus continued for several days. But they grew 
weaker and weaker; and, first, Frye was left, then 
Farwell sank to rise no more, — Davis alone reaching 
the fort. Jones followed down the Saco river, arriv- 
ing after many days at Biddeford, emaciated almost 
to a skeleton by hunger, pain and loss of blood. 

9. Ossipee Pond was scarcely more than twenty 
miles from the scene of the battle, but so weary were 
the men and so indirect their route, that it was four 
days before the first arrived at the fort. . They found 
it deserted. A man of the company had run away at 
the beginning of the fight ; and, coming to the ibrt, 
he told the men of the fall of Captain Lovewell and 
others, and of the great number of the Indians. The 
little garrison had no doubt that every one remaining 
had been killed or captured, and supposed that the 
savages vf ould next fall upon the fort ; so they at once 
abandoned it, and started for the settlements. 

It was Wednesday when the remnant of Lovewell's 
brave band reached the fort. They were in a half- 
starved condition, having had nothing to eat since the 
morning of the preceding Saturday, except a few 
roots and the bark of trees. Here they found some 
bread and pork left by the deserters ; so they were 
saved from starvation. After a short rest they started 
for home, where they were received with great joy — 
almost as persons restored from the dead. Colonel 



142 



HISTORY OF MAI^^E. 



1725 



Tyng witli eiglity-seven men at once started for the 
scene of the fight. He found the bodies of the twelve 
who had been killed, and buried them at the foot of a 
great pine, carving their names upon the trees about 
the ba4;tle ground. 




VIEW OF LOVEWELL S BATTLE-GROUND 



10. The Indians were struck with such dread by 
this fight, that they immediately retii-ed into some un- 
known wilderness, and were found no more in their 
old haunts until the war was over. It is supposed 
that about fifty warriors fell in this conflict, among 
whom was their principal leader, Paugus. 

The next month Captain Heath, probably desirous 
of emulating the heroes of Norridgewock and Pig- 
wacket, set out again for the Penobscot. Since the 
burning of their village by Colonel Westbrook, the 
Indians on this river had built another a few miles 



1726 lovewell's fight. 143 

above the Kenduskeag, at a place now called "Fort 
Hill," wMcli is within the present limits of Bangor. 
It had between forty and fifty wigwams, together 
with several cottages with chimnies and cellars, and a 
Cathohc chapel. The Indians were on the alert; and 
again their invaders found only deserted dwellings. 
These they set on fire, and departed. 

11. The tribes were now disposed to make peace; 
but so many things happeiied to disturb the negotia- 
tions, that tlie conditions were not settled until the 
fifteenth of December, 1726. Only four sagamores 
then signed the treaty; and it was not until the next 
summer that the conference was held for its ratifica- 
tion. By this treaty, trading houses were to be kept 
on the principal rivers for the convenience of the In- 
dians; while the settlers were confirmed in their lands, 
and all the English captives were to be released with- 
out ransom. This war is known as "Lovewell's War," 
or the "Three Years War" ; and the number killed 
and carried into captivity during its progi'ess, includ- 
ing settlers, soldiers and seamen, was about two hun- 
dred. 

12. On the thirtieth of July, 1727, about forty 
sagamores, with the Penobscot sachem, Wenemovet, 
at their head, appeared at Casco Neck; where- Gov- 
ernor Dummer, with a large number of councillors 
and representatives, and a fine train of young gentle- 
men, had already been waiting nearly a fortnight. 
These chiefs represented the Tarratines, Canibas and 
Androscoggins, and brought a letter and two belts of 
wampum from the St. Francis Indians, in Canada, — 
indicating their wish to join in the treaty. The con- 
ference lasted a full v/eek; and every paragraph of 
the treaty was read to them and repeated distinctly 
by their interpreters; after which it was explained 
and discussed. It was ratified in the meeting house, 
(a very good place to make a treaty of peace) and 
eigned by Governor Dummer and others on the part 



144 HISTORY OF MAINE. l'^27 

of tlie English, and by Wenemovet and twenty-five of 
the sagamores; and then the business ended with a 
pubHc dinner. 

13. This affair was long celebrated as "Dum- 
mer's Treaty" ; and the peace that followed was the 
most lasting of any since the Indian wars commenced ; 
for it was better understood by them than any of the 
former treaties, while they had just had the impor- 
tance of keeping their agreements impressed upon 
them by a severe chastisement. 

When did the famous battle known as "Lovewell's Fight" take 
place ? Where did Lovewell build a fort ? Where is the pond 
beside which the fight occurred ? When the leader inquired of his 
men whether they would fight, or retreat, what reply did they 
make? What happened when they returned to resume their 
packs ? After the fall of Capt, Lovewell who took command ? 
How long did the savages keep up the attack ? What remarkable 
personal encounter took place in this fight ? Who were left at 
night in possession of the field ? What had been the loss of the 
Indians? What became of the remainder? What celebrated 
treaty closed this war ? 



CHAPTEE XVIII. 

1. The inhabitants of Maine had suffered frequent 
and long distress by the savage wars, yet they clung 
to their freeholds as a most precious heritage. This 
freehold right to the land upon which they lived, no 
rents to pay, no feudal service to render to some lord 
proprietor, — this was something few or none of them 
had enjoyed in England. From this cause, doubtless, 



I'^^O CUSTOMS OF THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. 145 

arose in a largo degree that love of country, whicli was 
so distinguished a virtue of our forefathers. 

The hardships of those early days no pen can prop- 
erly relate. Their paths were ambushed, they were 
shot down in the fields, they woke in the silent hours 
of night to find their buildings in flames, and the 
hatchets of the sava2:es breakinsi: down the doors of 
their dwellings ; none could tell when or where the 
prowling foe would strike. Consequently many fam- 
ilies spent weeks together in the garrison, daring to 
cultivate only the nearest fields. But with the return 
of peace the farms soon teemed with plenty, while 
the rino-ins: saws beside the dashinct cataracts turned 
the dense woods into marketable lumber. 

2. Soon after the close of Lovewell's war the Gen- 
eral Court laid out a tier of back towns, and divided 
them into lots, with which to reward the soldiers, and 
supply farms for immigrants. The old settlements 
were greatly pleased at this ; for they had stood for 
nearly a century in single file between the ocean and 
the forest ; and in case of another war these new 
towns would be a bulwark against their old enemies. 

Many settlers came from Massachusetts and New 
Hampshire, but foreign emigrants came slowly ; for 
the authorities acted with severity toward these, and- 
would not knowingly admit any person of bad morals 
or shiftless habits. There was a law at this time that 
the stranger, or the captain who brought him, should 
secure the country for five years against being charg- 
able for his support ; yet if he could prove himself 
skilled as a mechanic, mariner or farmer, and was of 
unblemished character he was admitted without any 
bond ; because such as these make valuable citizens 
for any country. 

3. You will recollect that in Gorges' charter the 
best trees were reserved for the king's navy — and 
just so they were in all the charters and grants. 
There was a great extent of forest in Maine, and a 



146 niSTOEY OF MAINE. 1729 

great lengtli of sea-coast ; and many owners of saw- 
mills and vessels chose rather to cut up the trees 
which the king claimed than those to which they had 
an undoubted right. The king soon found this out ; 
and in 1699, when the Earl of Bellamont was made 
governor of New England, John Bridges was sent 
over as surveyor or keeper of the king's woods. He 
went through the forests bordering on the coast and 
rivers, seeldng out the tall pines suitable for masts, 
and the noble oaks, good for plank and to make strong- 
knees to strengthen the vessel, — marking them with 
the royal "R." But the owners of territory consider- 
ed themselves wronged by this grasping claiin on all 
their best trees ; and the crafty lumbermen hewed off 
the stamp and sent the fine logs rolhng down to their 
mills. So the surveyors watched the mills, where 
they often came into conflict with the millmen, and 
sometimes got very roughly handled by these sturdy 
sons of the forest — who laid their fists upon the intru- 
sive surveyor and his aids with as hearty good will as 
they had lain their axes against the king's trees. 

4. In 1T29 Colonel David Dunbar was appointed 
surveyor of the royal woods. The king, George IL, 
also granted him the territory between the Kennebec 
.and Penobscot rivers, under the name of the Province 
of Sagadahock; but reserved to himself 300,000 acres 
of the best pine and oak. In return, Dun])ar was to 
settle the province witli good, industrious Protestants. 
Now the king had no right to make a grant of' this 
territory ; for, by the charter of William and Mary, it 
belonged to Massachusetts, which had expended much 
money for its protection against the French and In- 
dians. But Dunbar took possession, garrisoning the 
fort at Pemaquid with British soldiers from Nova Sco- 
tia. He laid out .several towns and brought in his 
settlers, to whom he conveyed the land by perpetual 
lease, the rent being only a peppercorn, annualty. He 
found a great many persons already occupying his 



^''2^ CUSTOMS OF THE e:n'glish settleks. 147 

province, who denied liis claim, holding their posses- 
sions under the original patents. Some of these 
would not yield to his demands ; and he sent an armed 
force, who burnt their houses and drove them from 
their lands, even threatening them with imprisonment 
for insisting on their rights. After tliree years, how- 
ever, the province was taken from him and restored 
to the rightful owners. It was not Dunbar's fault 
that he had no genuine right to the province, but the 
king's, who commissioned him. Yet he chd the coun- 
try much service by the numerous and excellent set- 
tlers whom he brought in; and, on the whole, nobody 
suffered much wrong. His settlers were mostly the 
Scotch-Irish, from the north of L'eland, and Presby- 
terian in religion. Some of this people had nearly a 
century before settled about Saco, while others still 
made their homes at Brunswick and Topsham on the 
Androscoggin, and at Bath and other places on the 
Kennebec. Soon after the restoration of the province 
of Sagadahock to the patentees, Samuel Waldo 
brouglit from Germany many families of the religious 
sect called Lutherans, and founded the town of Waldo- 
boro, in the present county of Lincoln. 

5. Governor Belcher of Massachusetts had been 
one of the most earnest opposers of Dunbar's claim 
to the province of Sagadahock, and when the latter 
became governor of New Hampshire he made a great 
effort to have Belcher removed. By making the jeal- 
ous king believe that the governor was favoring the 
colonies at the expense of the royal interest, he at last 
succeeded. So Governor Belcher lost a good office. 
But he got a better one afterward ; for the Idng soon 
learned that he was really a faithful and upright officer. 

Among the friends of the good governor was the 
celebrated George Whitefield, who came to the coun- 
try dm'ing the last years of his rule. Whitefield, you 
know, was an evangelist ; and in his day he was reck- 
oned the "prince of preachers." Young Ben. Frank- 



148 niSTOEY OF IklAINE. l^^l 

lin one day went to hear him, fully determined to con- 
tribute nothing to the charity for wliich the "wonder- 
ful preacher" pleaded. Ben was an exceedingly cool 
young man; but as the sermon went on he put his 
hand in his pocket, and thought he would give his 
copper coin ; pretty soon he concluded that he would 
give the silver; hut when the plate came round he 
pulled out his purse and said, "Take it all." White- 
lield first preached in Maine in 1741 ; and again in 
1745 he visited York, A\^ells, Biddeford, Scarborough, 
Falmouth and North Yarmouth, — stirring up the re- 
ligious feeling of the people. I suspect there was 
great need of it, though Maine had been blessed by 
many faithful ministers. 

6. The Rev. Samuel Moody was the most noted 
clergyman of this day in Maine, having been minister 
over the first parish in York above forty years. When 
settled there he refused any sti]-)ulatecl salary, pre- 
ferring to live on voluntary contributions. His par- 
ish, therefore, faitlifully provided for him, and he 
knew nothing of what he was to receive until it was 
placed in his hands. AYith all his eccentricity, he was 
a man of ardent piety and great usefulness. 

Puritan preaching was usually grave and severe ; 
but theirs was a period of violent men and stern ne- 
cessities, and they felt that the laws of God must be 
declared without fear or favor. Though the Christian 
graces were not so well displayed by them as should 
have been, yet the fruits of their ministry were seen 
in the virtuous lives of then- hearers, and of the gen- 
erations which came after. 

7. For many years it was the law in Massachusetts 
and the province of Maine that none except members 
of the Puritan church should be voters; and while 
this union between Church and State continued, all 
other sects within their borders suifered persecution. 
But after many years people of all shades of belief 
were admitted to full citizenship ; then the stern Puri- 



1"^1 CUSTOMS OF THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. 149 

tan became the milder Congregationalist, and perse- 
cutions ceased. In Episcopal churches the form of 
worship was very nearly the same as it is to-day, ex- 
cept that the English "Book of Common Prayer" was 
used instead of the American, — which was not prepar- 
ed until our country became an independent nation. 
The method of worship in Congregational churches 
was also the same in its general plan as now, though 
on account of the old customs there was a striking 
difference in several particulars. The churches were 
roughly built, like the houses. Many were not plas- 
tered, and until long after the Revolution few were 
warmed, even in the coldest whiter weather ; for the 
strict "professors" of tlie day thought it wrong to have 
a hre in the house of God. So they sat and suffered, 
until it became the practice to use hot bricks and 
stones for the hands and feet. The next thing was 
foot-stoves, which were filled with wood coals, and 
must have made the people feel quite drowsy from 
the oppressive and unwholesome air which resulted. 
The services were very long; the sermon usually oc- 
cupied above an hour and often two, and the prayers 
fully half as much. So in the cold weather the min- 
ister was often obliged to beat the sacred desk most 
unmercifully to restore warmth to his purple and be- 
numbed fingers. 

8. Puritan ministers always wore black gowns 
and flowing wigs in the pulpit ; and one would hardly 
be surprised that their sermons were dignified and 
severe rather than sympathetic and winning. It is 
not strange that under these circumstances the little 
boys were often inclined to play, and even the heads 
of families sometimes nodded ! Of course this con- 
duct could not be tolerated ; and all through the ser- 
mon and prayers the deacon or tythingman kept 
watch, or walked softly about, rapping the heads of 
the naughty boys with the knob on the end of his long 
stick, or tapping the heads of the men when they 



150 HISTORY OF MAINE. I'^l 

snored ; but when the women forgot to keep their 
eyes open, he only tickled their faces with the feathers 
. on the other end of his staif. 

9. Books were scarce and expensive in those days; 
and, when the hymn was not familiar, the minister 
read off two lines, which were sung by the congrega- 
tion ; then other two lines were read, and sung - — and 
so on through the hymn. After a while printed tunes 
came into use ; and then the chorister had to be more 
particular about pitching the tunes, — so they had for 
this purpose httle wooden whistles, which they called 
pitch pipes. 

The Puritans reckoned the Sabbath to begin at sun- 
set on Saturday, and to close at sunset on Sunday 
night. Within these hours no labor was allowed, ex- 
cept what w^as needful for the health of the body. 
All recreation or traveling for business or pleasm*e 
was strictly forbidden; and people who staid away 
from meeting were by law subject to a fine. In good 
Puritan families on this day the children and servants 
recited the orthodox catechism; for this, also, was 
required by the law. 

10. From the year 1638, when Harvard College 
was established, every town of fifty householders was 
ordered to hire a teacher the year round ; and a town 
of one hundred householders had its school where 
children were taught their a, b, c; and where, also, 
boys conld be fitted for college. Probably none of 
our well trained boys and girls ever heard in school 
hours such buzzing as they had in these ancient schools 
all the time. The country in those times seemed so 
large that most families talked loud, having no fear 
that they would be overheard by any neighbors ex- 
cept the bears and wolves ; while the children had no 
idea that they could study without pronouncing the 
words at least in Avhispers ; so, I suppose, when they 
buzzed the liveliest the teacher looked for the best 
lessons. Often two or three would be seen studying 



17^1 CUSTOMS OF THE EjS"GLISH SETTLERS. 151 

from the same volume, as one book of a kind fre- 
quently answered for a whole family; for classes were 
very few, but large. There were other sounds in the 
room besides the smothered tones of the student; the 
sound of the l)irch that made the jacket smoke, the 
"spat" of the broad ruler, — which was sometimes 
pierced with holes, for the kindly purpose of raising 
blisters; while over all arose the sob of the sensitive, 
the whine of the base, or the groan of the plucky. 
But there were busy fingers as well as lips ; and the 
rustle of sheets and pillow cases, and the ''whip" of 
the stout, swift thread on the the back seats answered 
to the click of the knitting needles, where the stock- 
ings and suspenders grew in the hands of l)oth boys 
and girls. Often in cold weatlier the cut and split of 
the firewood fell short; then the big boys liad to take 
their turns in making the fresh chips fly from the 
great, green logs piled up beside the dooi*. 

11. In the Ions: Avinter evenino-s there were the 
spelling school and the siiiging school, where pleasure 
was joined with instruction ; and the husking and tlio 
apple bee, where pleasure went hand in hand with 
profit. And when the parties separated, tlie favorites 
walked home together in the calm moonlight ; and 
often then, as now, a pair would linger on the door- 
step for a few tender whisperings, and the soft chirrup 
of a good night greeting. But the law was very 
watchful to prevent unsuitable matches; and if an 
ardent youth or an older and more designing man at- 
tempted to wdn the aflections of a girl under eighteen 
unbeknown to her parents or guardians, he thereby 
became subject to a fine. Yet most of the young peo- 
ple either fell in love or grew to love each other, got 
married and lived happily. Land was cheap and lum- 
ber abundant in those days; and any healthy and in- 
dustrious young couple could soon make themselves 
a comfortable home, — as, indeed, they can at the pre- 
sent day. 



152 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1741 

12. Tlie first houses were built of logs; notclies 
being cut on the opposite sides at each end, so that 
they would lock at the corners and he close along the 
sides. But after the Indian wars were over, wherever 
the sawmills provided lumber, frame houses were 
built, which were covered with great broad boards; 
being made water tight on roof and wall by shingles 
split out of the great blocks with mallet and frow, — 
and old men say that never since have shingles lasted 
as those did. 

In passing through our State even at this day we 
shall see that many houses, mostly very old, set at 
every angle w^ith the roads ; yet we might be sure that 
most of them faced the south. This happened because 
the houses were often built before the roads were 
made; but the south was alwa^^s there. So the sun 
gave the chief rooms a cheerful aspect at all hours, 
while at noon it shone squarely through the little win- 
dows, telling the busy housewife what was tlie time of 
day. 

13. Then there was the great fireplace, of brick or 
stone, four — aye, often six feet wide at the back ; deep 
and liigh enough, too, for the childi'en to sit in the 
corners and see the stars glimmering through the 
huge throat of the chimney. Within the fire-place 
also hung joints of pork, slowly turning to bacon 
in the smoke ; while from the bare beams overhead 
were suspended strings of pared and quartered apples, 
and the cmwing strips of pumpkin, — which through 
the long winter and spring, turned to dehghtful pies, 
or made more savory the great loaves of "rye and In- 
dian" bread. 

On hooks near the chimney hung the guns, the big 
powder horn, and, perhaps, a spontoou, or a halberd. 
Possibly a coarse engraving or two of bible scenes, or 
more frequently, Eang Charles' "Twelve Good Kules," 
hung upon the plain wall of wood or plaster. Oppo- 
site the fireplace, and always reflecting its light, was 



^^*1 CUSTOMS OF THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. 153 

the "dresser," on wliicli stood the table ware of bright 
pewter, crockery, or smoothly turned wood. About 
the room were long benches and movable stools, a 
broad stout table and, possibly, a few chairs. 

14. There was the little treadwheel with its distaff 
and spindle, for flax spinning, — and near by was the 
larger wheel for wool and cotton ; while farther away, 
or in another room, stood the great, square wooden 
frame of the hand loom, where the family clothes were 
woven. Here, during the long summer afternoon, 
the industrious mother or buxom daughter sat flinging 
the swift shuttle from side to side of the stout web, 
and her buskined foot upon the treadle reversed at 
every moment the mazy woof, while the swinging 
beam beat close the imprisoned thread of the warp. 
Cloth of wool for blankets, cloaks and coats, sheets of 
linen and cotton, strong and serviceable, — each came in 
its turn from this true and original "manufactory." 

At first all the shoes were brought from England; 
then the skins of moose and deer, and, later, those of 
their own domestic animals, were used by the shoe- 
makers; while soft-dressed deer skins were frequently 
worn for coats and leggins. In summer, farmers and 
mechanics had their tow cloth suits for every day 
wear, — ^for winter, their woolens, and for Sunday, 
their "full-cloth" and linen, — ^generally the product of 
the industry and skill of their own wives and daugh- 
ters. 

15. The villages of Maine were as yet too small 
and scattered for much display, and the dress and 
ceremony of fashion were rarely seen except in one or 
two towns, until after the revolution. The people of 
this period loved better a cordial and comfortable sort 
of life ; and when the thrifty housewife went out to 
visit a neighbor, it was often with distaff of flax in 
hand and the diminutive spinning wheel on her arm. 
And sometimes all the ladies of a parish would visit 
their minister's house, and hold there a spinning bee 



154 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^^l 

as a benefit to tlieir worthy host and his excellent 
wife. 

The good ladies attended each other's afternoon tea 
parties, bringing each her own cup and saucer of china, 
— ^if she was so fortimate as to have one; for these 
were generally heir-looms, — ^part of a set which the 
mother or grandmother had brought over from her 
English home, and divided and subdivided among 
daughters and granddaughters. It was often with 
other household stufi:' as with china ; in many a plainly 
furnished house might be seen a carved chair, a fine 
table or bufiet, seeming quite out of place amid the 
rough furniture made on the spot. 

The early settlers of our State were usually of good 
parentage, many of them being impoverished branches 
of noble families — here becoming sons and daughters 
of the soil ; whose names, by and by, should emerge 
again to fame by the noble deeds of thek children. 

What right had the settlers in Maine which few of them had 
possessed in England ? What regulations were made by the 
General Court in regard to immigrants? What can you tell of the 
kmg's woods ? To whom did the king ^ive the tenitory between 
the Kennebec and Penobscot in 1729 ? Who held a previous right 
to that tract? What people did Dunbar bring in as settlers? 
What celebrated preacher visited Maine in 1741 and 1745 ? What 
was in general the character of Puritan preaching ? What was at 
first the Puritan law in regard to voters ? What were the laws in 
regard to the observance of the Sabbath ? What were some of the 
customs of those days ? 



1744 KING GEOKGe's WAR. 155 



CHAPTER XIX. 

1. In the spring of 1744: France joined Spain in the 
war which she was carrying on against England. As 
soon as the French subjects in America heard of this, 
they began to plot against the English colonies. 
ISTova Scotia was now in the possession of the Enghsh, 
and here the French and Indians made their first at- 
tacks. Yet Cape Breton Island was still held by the 
French; and Louisburg, the chief town, naturally a 
strong position, had been so strongly fortified that it 
was called the Dunkirk and the Gibraltar of America. 
The possession of this place would be of great advan- 
tage to the English; and in the spring of 1745 an ex- 
pedition was sent against it. As the principal leaders 
of this enterprise were citizens of Maine, I shall give 
a particular description of the siege. 

2. The armament consisted of fom- thousand men, 
and thirteen vessels, with transports and store ships, 
carrying in all about two hundred guns. The com- 
mander in chief was WilHam Pepperell, of Kittery; 
who had for several years been colonel of the York- 
shii-e militia. He was a gentleman of unblemished 
reputation, by occupation a merchant ; but he had a 
taste for martial affairs, and was familiar with Indian 
warfare. The second in command was Samuel Wal- 
do, of Falmouth, who was commissioned Brigadier 
General. Others were Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah 
Moulton, noted for his success in the destruction of 
Norridgewock ; and Lieut. Colonel William Yaughn, 
of Damariscotta, the originator of the enterprise. The 
commander of the fleet was Captain Edward Tyng, of 
Falmouth, who had distinguished himself the year 
before by capturing a French privateer, much larger 
than liis own vessel. Mr. Wliitefield, the great 



156 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

preacher, was consulted by General Pepperell in re- 
gard to the expedition, and gave as a motto for the 
flag the words. Nil desperandum^ Christo duce. 

3. The movement had been kept so secret that the 
force arrived witliin sight of Louisburg before the 
French were really certain that they were to ])e at- 
tacked at all. Oil Lonisbui-g the fleet captured a 
French brigantine laden with supplies for the garrison. 
Commodore Warren vvith four British war ships soon 
after joined the colonial flotilla, and durmg tlie siege 
six other ships of war arrived ; so that in all the fleet 
mounted some four hundred and ninety guns. The 
flrst movement against tlie city was made by Lieut. 
Colonel Yaughn. Landing four hundred and fifty 
men in the woods, he marched in the night to the 
northeast side of the harbor, where he set on flre some 
buildings containing naval stores and a great quantity 
of wine and brandy. The grand battery of the French 
was about three fourths of a mile from these, and such 
volumes of smoke v/ere carried into it by the wind, 
that the gunners became terrified; and, spiking their 
cannon, fled to the city. Li the morning Yaughn 
took possession; and, drilling out the spiked vents, 
turned the guns — great 42 pounders — upon the city. 
Then more troops were landed and other batteries 
constructed, one after the other, — each new one nearer 
than the last. Yet to do this the guns and ammuni- 
tion had to be drai^ored over a morass where oxen 
could not pass, the men gomg up to their knees in the 
mud ; and all the work was done on foggy days, or in 
the night time, when the enemy could not see to fire 
upon them. 

4. A summons of surrender was sent to Ducham- 
bon, the governor; but being refused, the work was 
still pressed on until a' battery was erected within two 
hundred and fifty yards of the west gate. The next 
day after this was completed, a French ship hove in 
sight, and was decoyed into the midst of danger ; 



1^*^ KING George's war. 157 

where, after a few shots, she suiTendered to Captain 
Tyng. She proved to be the Vigila?it, a sixty-four 
gun ship, hiden with military stores, and bringing five 
hnndred and sixty meii. A few days hxter a flag of 
truce was sent ashore with a letter requesting the 
enemy to give his English prisoners better treatment. 
The messengers were accompanied by the captain of 
the Vi(/ila?it, who informed the authorities how 
kindly the French prisoners on board the vessels were 
treated. His appearance was the first knowledge the 
French had of the capture of his vessel with its troops 
and stores, on which they greatly relied; and they 
were in great dismay. Their works were already 
badly damaged by the fire of the batteries, even the 
magazine and the central battery being greatly injur- 
ed, while the western gate was broken down. 

5. The fourteenth of June was the anniversary of 
the king's ascent to the throne ; and at twelve o'clock 
the English fired a grand salute, the guns'of the fleet 
and batteries beina: discharged toe:ether. The French 
perceived that everything was noAV ready for the bom- 
bardment and assault, and the governor sent a flag of 
truce oflfering to surrender. A capitulation was 
agreed upon, by whicli the French troops were sent 
home to France, under parole not to fight against the 
Englisli for twelve months. On the iTtli of June the 
English troops marched into the city. They were 
filled with surprise at the strength of the fortifications ; 
the wall on the side next the shore being above thirty 
feet high, with a ditch in front eighty feet in width ; 
while in the various batteries vv^ere nearly one hun- 
dred heavy guns and mortars. The garrison consisted 
of two thousand soldiers. The French loss in this 
siege was above three hundred killed and many more 
wounded, while the loss of the English was but one 
hundred and thirty. One vessel had been lost in a 
storm; but, to offset this, the prizes taken amounted 
to nearly a milhon pounds sterling. Yet it all went 



158 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^*^ 

to the British ; but the colonies, after soliciting parlia- 
ment for seven years, obtained an allowance of 
200,000 i^onnds. 

6. The news of this idctory filled France and Eng- 
land with astonishment, and America with gladness. 
Bells were rung, bonfires blazed, and a pnbfic thanks- 
giving was held throughout New England. Pep- 
perell, the commander of the land forces, was made a 
baronet; and the British commodore, Warren, who 
came to the siege unwillingly and late, was raised to 
the post of admiral; while Tyng, to wdiom belonged 
all the honor of the naval exploits, received the ofi'er 
of post-captain in the British navy; but declining this, 
he had only liis pay and the applause of his country- 
men as liis reward. 



\ 



Sm WILLIAM PEPPEKELL. 



Though the Indians east of the St. Croix were now 
in open war with the English, the Tarratines still re- 
mained peaceful. They had every reason for it. 
Since Governor Dummer's treaty the authorities had 
frequently met them for conference, feasted them, 



^745 iQNG George's war. 159 

made tliem presents, and had even bestowed pensions 
on some of the chiefs. Yet for a year previous to the 
fall of Lonisburg frequent acts of mischief had been 
committed by some tribes in Maine. "They seemed to 
have a fondness for breaking down fences and setting 
the cattle upon the growing corn ; while now and then 
a beast was killed or a building burned. 

7. It was supposed that the Androscoggin and 
Korridgewock Indians were the guilty parties; and 
the Penobscot tribe was called upon to furnish war- 
riors to aid in chastising the guilty tribes — this being 
a condition of Dummer's treaty. A high premium 
was offered them for scalps, with an additional sum of 
five pounds for captives, in order to save hfe. Yet 
the constant reply of the sagamores was that their 
young men would not take up arms against their 
brethren. During these twenty peaceful years since 
Lovewell's war a generation of young savages had 
grown up. They had heard from their sires the story 
of the white man's wrongs upon then* race ; and they 
burned for vengeance, and to Avin honor and renown 
among the tribes for their valiant exploits. The 
French supplied them with arms and ammunition; 
and neither the persuasions nor the presents of the 
English authorities could deter them from their bloody 
purpose. 

8. The first blow fell on St. George's Fort, which 
was attacked by a body of Cape Sable, St. John and 
St. Francis Indians on the 19th of July. Kot making 
any impression upon it, they burned a mill and sev- 
eral dwelling houses, killed many cattle, and departed, 
having captured but a single prisoner. Meantime a 
party of young w^arriors from Penobscot and Nor- 
ridgewock marked Fort Frederick, at Pemaquid, 
for their prize. Coming near the fort they met a wo- 
man whom they shot in the shoulder, then made pris- 
oner. This was only about three hundred yards from 
the walls; and the sound of the gun, together with 



160 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1745 

the shrieks of the wounded woman, ahirmed the garri- 
son, — who immediately gave the savages a telling vol- 
ley. In the smoke and confusion the woman broke 
away from her captor and escaped to the fort. 

9. The foiled braves now set their hideous faces 
westward, a])2:>earing a few days later at North Yar- 
mouth. Tlieir first approach was discovered by a dog; 
and, turning back, they committed other barbarities 
eastward. Again they laid an ambush at Yarmouth. 
Unconscious of tlieir presence, three men approached 
their hiding place ; and one was instantly killed, an- 
other was made prisoner, while the third escaped. 
The Indians now scattered themselves along the ridge 
between the two forts, and tired upon the men as they 
rushed out of the houses below to repel the attack; 
but they speedily retreated to the woods when the 
English bullets began to whistle about them. 

It was now considered more than imprudent to work 
on the farms except in large and well armed parties ; 
for people away from the garrison were liable to be 
shot down at any moment. 

10. But it was on St. George's River that the 
savages were the most numerous and watchful; for 
these settlements were the furthest advanced upon the 
territories of the tribe best able to resist such en- 
croachment. Here a whole party, consisting of sev- 
eral men, were killed and scalped only a short distance 
from the garrison; tw^o men going down river in a 
boat to collect rockweed were taken and carried to 
Canada; two women while milking their cows close 
to the garrison were surprised, and one of them cap- 
tured, while the other narrowly escaped to the fort. 

So many had been drawn from Maine by the 
Louisburg expedition that scarcely as many men as 
there w^ere families remained for defense; and one 
hundred and seventy-five soldiers were drawn from 
Massachusetts to reinforce the garrisons. This raised 
the numl)er in military service in Maine to about six 



1745 e:ing George's war. 161 

Imndred; and scouting parties now frequently trav- 
ersed the region in the rear of the towns from Berwick 
to St. George. 

11. At length another demand was made upon the 
tribes at Penobscot and Norridgewock in a somewhat 
diiferent form. It was that they should deHver up 
the parties guilty of the recent outrages in the East, 
or liostages for them, or else furnish at least thirty 
fighting men within fourteen days — otherwise the 
treaty was to be considered broken, and war declared. 
The tribes made no response; therefore on the 23d of 
August government declared war against all the east- 
ern tribes. The bounties offered for each Indian cap- 
tive or scalp taken were one hundred pounds to a 
soldier in public service, two hundred and fifty pounds 
to a person receiving provisions and not wages, and 
four hundred pounds to a volunteer having neither 
j)ay or rations. Though by these inducements many 
small companies were drawn into occasional service, 
the depreciations of the savages were not wholly pre- 
vented. One inhabitant fell here and another there, 
all along the coast; and, though scouting parties were 
constantly out, few Indians were taken — the most 
successful party being that of Lieutenant Proctor, who 
had a skirmish near St. George's River, in which two 
Indian chiefs, "Colonel Morris" and "Captain Sam," 
were killed, and "Colonel Job" taken prisoner. 

12. During the winter a rumor that the French 
were preparing to join the Indians and fall upon some 
of the towns, caused a further addition of about four 
hundred men to the garrisons from Massachusetts, 
together with four small field pieces and a swivel. 
But no attempt was made by the enemy ; and, though 
greatly distressed, the inhabitants had not to mourn 
other friends fallen, or property destroyed. 

What war commenced in 1 744 ? Who at this time held Cape 
Breton ? What town upon this island was very strongly fortified ? 
Who were the leaders of the expedition against Louisburg ? What 



162 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1746 

motto did Whitefield give for the expedition ? Give a- brief ac- 
count of the siege. To whom did the credit of these achievements 
belong ? What reward did Pepperell receive ? Who after this 
supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition ? What fort was 
first attacked ? What Indians attacked Fort Frederick ? To what 
place did the savages next proceed ? Why was war declared 
against the eastern tribes ? 



CHAPTEK XX. 

1. In tlie following spring the Indians renewed 
their depredations in greater force and more vengeful 
mood. In Gorhara several persons were killed or cap- 
tured while at work in their fields. 'A Mr. Bryant and 
his son being surprised by them, the two ran different 
ways, and the father was overtaken and killed. The 
boy getting out of their sight, plunged into the brook. 
He pushed his head above water among the roots of a 
tree, so as to breathe ; but he was so well hidden that 
when the Indians arrived at the spot they were unable 
to find him. Th-ey then went to Mr. Bryant's house, 
and killed four children, and took off their scalps. 
One of the savages pulled tlie baby from its cradle by 
the feet, and dashed its head against the fire-place be- 
fore the eyes of its mother. Then he tossed it into a 
kettle of water that was boiling on the fire, shouting 
with fiendish glee, ^'Hot water good for Indian dog, 
good for pappoose, too." This horrible act was in 
revenge for its mother's cruelty in- throwing hot suds 
upon him more than a year before. Then the savage 
danced about her, pointing mth bloody fingers at her 



17-^^^ KING George's war continued. 163 

husbands' scalp in the girdle of the chief. They car- 
ried the widowed and bereaved woman away with 
them to Canada, where she was sold to the Frenchmen. 

2. In May a large body of Indians attacked Wal- 
doborough, burning the dwelhngs, killing many of the 
inhabitants, and taking many prisoners. They kept 
up this sort of warfare until winter, almost every town 
losing inhabitants, buildings and cattle. The people 
were forced to remain in the garrison houses, and could 
only plant and gather their crops under a strong guard, 
and at times they dared not even milk their cows, 
though these were kept in pastures adjoining the gar- 
risons. There had been so many wars that the two 
races had now learned each other's devices ; so that 
while fewer of the settlers w^ere killed, the savages, on 
their part, came so secretly and fled so swiftly that the 
English could not often meet or overtake them. The 
dogs of the English generally showed great antipathy 
to the Indians, growling, barking and bristling wdth 
rage whenever any of these people were near. They 
could scent them* at a long distance, too ; and often 
gave timely warning of their approach. Therefore 
these animals became a great advantage to the settlers ; 
and the scouts, also, found their keen scent of much 
use in following Indian trails. The Indians soon 
came to fear the white men's dogs, and the killing of 
them by the savages was often found a precursor of 
hostile attacks. 

3. The French were now planning to recapture 
Louisburg and ISTova Scotia ; and in the autumn of 
1746 a fleet of seventy ships with upwards of three 
thousand land troops was sent for this purpose. Sev- 
eral of the largest ships were so much disabled by a 
storm that they had to be sent back ; and on landing 
at Chebucto, (Hahfax) it was found that nearly one- 
half the troops had died of scorbutic fever, while the 
remnant were so weak that they could not endure the 
least fatigue. A force of seventeen hundred men had 

8 



164 HISTORY OF MAINE. l"^^ 

been sent from Canada to act with the fleet; but, 
discouraged bj its not arriving at the time agreed upon, 
all except four hundred of them had returned. The 
Duke D'Anville, commander of the expedition, was 
so overcome by these disasters that four days after the 
arrival he died of chagrin. In a council of war held 
by the ofiicers after his death, the vice-admiral propos- 
ed to return at once to France, but Jonquiere, the gov- 
ernor of Canada, and third in command, wished to 
attack Annapohs. A majority joined with the gov- 
ernor ; and tlie vice admiral fell into a delirious fever, 
and threw himself upon his sword. When off Cape 
Sable, on the way to Annapolis, the fleet Vv'as again 
overtaken by a storm, and so scattered that the vessels 
were obliged to return to France. Tlie Indians caught 
the fever of the French, and it raged fearfully among 
them, and great numl^ers of them died. Thus Provi- 
dence itself seemed to war against the designs of the 
French, utterly defeating their great fleet, and destroy- 
ing their troops without the aid of man. 

4. The next spring the garrisons in Maine were 
increased by five hundred men, but the country was 
already swarming with savages. Thirty men under 
Captain Jordan were stationed at Topsham, but witli 
this exception the inhabitants from Kennebec to Wells 
were left to their own defense. A few volunteer com- 
panies were raised at various times ; that of Captain 
Ilsley of Falmoutli being among the most useful. Yet 
these received neitJier pay nor rations ; their only re- 
ward being the l)ounties for the Indians and French 
captured or killed. 

In May a second fleet sent from France to retrieve 
the misfortunes of the first, was met and defeated by 
a fleet of the British ; so that the hopes of the French 
in America were again doomed to disappointment. Yet 
the French and Indians made attacks upon the forts 
at Pemaquid and St. George's, though without success; 
and predatory bands harassed the settlers until July, 



1750 g;j^TQ George's war continued. 165 

1748, wlien the peace of Aix-la-Cbapelle closed the 
war. Early in the spring of the next year a delega- 
tion of chiefs appeared at Boston, desiring to make a 
treaty ; and again a treaty was made. 

5. In December, 1749, a quarrel happened between 

some Indians and English in which one of the Indians 
was killed. The gnilty parties were placed in prison 
to wait their trial ; yet, being incited by the French 
authorities, the St. Francis tribe the next season sent 
a band of warriors into Maine to glut their still unsat- 
isfied vengence. They were joined by some young 
Canibas fighters, swelling the party to about one hun- 
dred. Their first attack was in September, 1750, 
upon Fort Kichmondyin the present town of that name. 
The garrison consisted of only fourteen men ; but 
while the greedy savages were killing cattle and burn- 
ing houses in the vicinity a reinforcement reached the 
fort. As soon as the Indians learned this, they gave 
up the attempt, and departed down the river, destroy- 
ing property and killing or capturing whoever came 
in their way. 

6. One party attacked Wiscasset, setting some of 
the houses on fire, and taking two prisoners. An- 
other party went to Parker's Island, at the mouth of 
the Kennebec. Coming to a house just within call of 
the fort they were discovered, and dared not approach 
nearer; for they feared the cannon with which the 
garrisons were now generally supplied. The owner 
of the house was at that time its jonly occupant, but 
he fought bravely against his savage assailants. 
When at length they had cut down the door with 
their hatchets, he escaped tln-ough a window in the 
rear. Being cut oif from the fort, he ran toward the 
river and plunged in, with the intention of swimming 
to Arrowsic Island. The Indians pursued him to the 
shore; and two of them, springing nimbly into a 
canoe, continued the chase. They came rapidly up 
with him, and could almost reach him with their pad- 



166 HISTORY OF MAINE. 



3 750 



dies ; but he suddenly turned upon them and upset 
the canoe, then resumed his com'se, — leaving the dis- 
comfited savages floundering in the water. 

7. Passing from the Kennebec region, the Indians 
visited Falmouth, Gorham" and Windham, committing 
the usual acts of destruction, and carrying away twenty 
or thirty prisoners. On their return to Canada they 
came upon the camp of two hunters, named Snow and 
Butterfield, in what is now the town of Paris. Startled 
by a hideous yell, the two me;i looked up to discover 
a pack of savages close upon them. The foremost 
wore upon his head a hood formed of a hawkskin, the 
wings and tail reaching down to liis shoulders and back. 
He was the chief. Snow was sitting down with his gun 
in his lap, picking its flint, at the moment he discovered 
the Indians ; and he deliberately rose and aimed at the 
leader. He had been a captive once, and found the 
experience too painful to be repeated ; so he deter- 
mined to fight to the death. There was a flash and a 
report ; and the haughty form of the chief pitched 
forward and lay stretched upon the ground. The 
infuriated Indians instantly poured a volley upon the 
bold hunter, and he fell dead beside his companion, 
pierced through and through with bullets. 

8. So much alarm was created by this incursion, 
that one hundred and fifty men were detailed from 
the Yorkshire regiment to scour the woods between 
Saco and St. Georges', and the forts were restocked 
with ammunition, in readiness for the savages, should 
they come again. But this raid proved the last ; 
though a few revengeful individuals continued to rob, 
murder and burn, wherever they dared, until the sum- 
mer of 1751 ; when a new treaty settled all difiiculties 
and confirmed the peace. 

What settlement was attacked by the Indians in the spring of 
1746 ? What place was attacked in May ? For what purpose did the 
French send a powerful fleet to America in 1740 ? What happen- 



1753 Tii]H> sixT-iI AND LAST INDIAN' WAR. 167 

ed to this force ? What happened to the fleet sent out by France 
the next year ? What treaty closed this war ? What was done by 
a band of Indians from St. Francis River ? What happened on 
the return of this party ? What was the conduct of the Indians 
from this time until the treaty of 1751 ? 



CHAPTER XXI. 

1. Hardly had tlie afflicted settlers of Maine joined 
again the broken links of business, when the actions of 
the French filled them with fresh alarm. Among the 
captures of the last war were two families of children, 
taken in Frankfort, now Dresden. Their fathers vis- 
ited Canada in search of them, finding the children in 
Montreal, to their great dehght. But now the French 
governor interfered, and would not let them go. This 
was in violation of the treaty and of humanity ; and 
when the afflicted parents returned and made the facts 
known to Governor Shirley, he sent a messenger to 
Canada, who brought the children away by authority. 

Then the French began to form settlements along 
the river Chaudiere, which has its source near the 
head waters of the Kennebec ; and the Indians on this 
river resorted to the French for supplies. In ]N^ova 
Scotia their actions were Avarlike, but the first positive 
act of hostility was the murder of some English set- 
tlers on Lake Erie. The messenger sent to protest 
against these outrages was George Washington, now 
appearing for the fij'st time in national aftairs; but all 
the reply he could obtain from the French comman- 



168 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^^^ 

der was that the territory was French, and that he 
had orders to expel all intruders. 

2. There were unsettled questions about bounda- 
ries, both on the east and north of Maine and in the 
valley of the Ohio River ; and these were now under 
discussion at Paris. In the meantime France was 
pushing her settlements and forts in every direction, 
with the evident intention of liolding all she had and 
getting all she could. There were Louisburg, on Cape 
Breton Island, which had been restored to her by the 
last treaty, four forts in Nova Scotia — though by the 
same treaty this province had been ceded to England ; 
on the St. Lawrence were the strong cities of Mon- 
treal and Quebec — while southward were Crown 
Point, on Lake Champlain ; Ticondcroga, between the 
Lakes of Champlain and St. George ; Fort Frontenac, 
at the outlet of Lake Ontario ; Fort Niagara, just be- 
low the great Mis ; and Fort Du Quesue, [du kane] 
on the site of the present city of Pittsburg, in Penn- 
sylvania. 

3. The greatest efforts were made by the authori- 
ties of Maine to keep the natives peaceful, conferences 
being held vrith. them, and many valuable presents 
given ; so that at the last of these conferences, held in 
July, 1754, the Indians, in seeming good faith, placed 
five young savages in the hands of the English as 
hostages for the good behavior of the tribes. Three 
of these were Canibas, and two Tarratines ; and they 
were taken to Boston to be educated. 

Yet the authorities thought well of tlie old adage, 
"In time of peace prepare lor war" ; so they strength- 
ened the old forts and built several new ones. The 
first, called Fort Halifax, was situated at the junction 
of the Sebasticook River with the Kennebec, in the 
present town of Winslow. It was a quadrangular 
structure of hewn pine, one hundred feet long and 
forty feet wide. It contained two block houses, and 
was mounted T^^th several small cannon and a swivel. 



1754 TjjE SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN WAR. 169 





LAST BLOCK HOUSE OF FOKT HALIFAX. 



4. The proprietors of the Plymouth Patent had 
built a fort a year before at Cushnoc, (Augusta) on 
the eastern side of the river, which they named Fort 
Western. It was constructed in nearly the same man- 
ner as Fort Halifax, but was not quite so large, and 
had only four guns. This year the same proprietors 
built another within the present town of Dresden, 
about a mile above the northerly end of Swan Island. 
This they named Fort Shirley, in honor of the gov- 
ernor. It was formed of stockades, and enclosed a 
parade ground two hundred feet square, together with 
two block houses. Another small fort was built at the 
second falls of the Androscoggin, in the present town 
of Lisbon. 

On the sixth of November, 1754, before the fortifi- 
cations were entu'ely finished, the Indians attacked a 
detachment of the garrison at Fort Halifax, as they 



170 HISTORY OF MAINE. , 1755 

were liaiding wood. Tlie governor immediately sent 
them a reinforcement of one hundred men with five 
cohorn mortars, wliile six companies of minute men 
were ordered to be in readiness to marcli at the short- 
est notice ; but no further attaclv was made at this 
time. 

5. Earl J in the year 1755 occurred the famous de- 
feat of General Braddock by the French and Indians, 
when Colonel George Washington behaved so gal- 
lantly. The war soon raged from the eastern to the 
western settlements, on land and water; and two 
thousand men were raised, chiefly in Massachusetts 
and Maine, to drive the intruding French from [N^ova 
Scotia. Forty-one small vessels conveyed them to 
Chignecto Bay, at the northeastern extremity of the 
Bay of Fundy, vrhere Colonel Monkton, a British ofli- 
cer, joined them with a few pieces of artillery and 
about three hundi^ed men, Monkton took the chief 
command, but the l!^ew Englanders did the fighting. 

A strong fortification on the Missiquash Kiver, well 
garrisoned with French troops, was attacked by them 
with such spirit that the French fled to Beau-sejour, a 
fort farther up the river. This fort mounted twenty- 
six guns, and was supplied with plenty of ammunition 
and soldiers ; but after a siege of four days it was sur- 
rendered. The troops soon appeared before the re- 
maining forts, all of which surrendered in turn. It 
was an easy victory ; and the total loss of the English 
in the campaign was only twenty men. 

6. Much the larger portion of the inhabitants of 
this province lived about the bays of Minas and Chig- 
necto, vvdiere were several populous villages. But the 
people were of French parentage, and would not take 
the oath of allegiance, — and from this cause they were 
generally spoken of as the French ISTeutrals. They 
were a peaceful people when left alone ; yet, longing 
to be under the government of their own nation, they 
were cJways ready to rise in rebelhon at the bidding 



1755 . Tjjj, SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN WAE. 171 

of Frencli authority. This rendered them an exceed- 
ingly dangerous community to the Enghsh; therefore 
it was now decided by the British authorities of the 
province, that tliey must be removed. So the Acadi- 
ans were forced to leave forever their pleasant homes, 
with their houses and lands, their flocks and herds, — 
and were scattered among the English colonies from 
Maine to Louisiana. The poet Longfellow has in 
"Evangeline" told us their touching story. 

7. Meanwhile the Lidians flitted like shadows 
among the settlements of Maine. There was scarcely 
a town where houses were not burned, and men, women 
and children killed or carried into captivity. Fifty 
men scouted constantly from the Piscataqua Ponds to 
Saco River; flfty more from New Boston (Gray) by 
w^ay of Sebago Pond and New Gloucester; ninety 
from New Boston to Fort Shirley, in Dresden; and 
one hundred from thence to St. George's Kiver. All 
these could not wholly prevent the destructive rage of • 
the savages from making many victims; but when the 
fate of the French in Nova Scotia became known, the 
Indians, alarmed for themselves, forsook the frontiers 
and retired to the northern wilds. 

8. The Indians who had been engaged in these 
hostilities w^ere the Anasagunticooks, Canibas and 
St. Francis. The Tarratines still remained neutral, 
and no hostile acts had been committed by them dur- 
ing the war ; yet a Captam Cargill, who had raised a 
company to fight the northern Indians, coming upon 
a party of Tarratine hunters near Owl's Head on 
Penobscot Bay, immediately shot down twelve of 
them. There w^as no call for such a force as Cargill's 
in that region ; neither was any care taken before they 
fired upon the hunters, to learn whether they were 
friends or foes. Cargill was very justly arrested for 
this act; but though he was kept in prison for two 
years, no Indian appeared against him, and he was at 
last discharged. Government did what it could to 



172 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^^<5 

avert vengeance for the outrage, sending a letter of 
condolence to the famihes of the slain Indians, and 
loading with presents a party of the tribe who soon 
after visited Boston. 

9. The governor not long after required the Penob- 
scot Indians to furnish a number of warriors to join 
the English against the hostile tribes, according to 
then- agreement in the last treaty ; threatening to treat 
them as enemies if they refused. They were unwilHng 
at any time to take up arms against their brethren of 
the Kennebec and St. Francis, and were now especially 
bitter against the English; while the French, who 
were of the same religion, were urging them to join 
their cause; — yet they decided to remain neutral. So 
government declared war against them because they 
did not fulfil their treaty obligations.- 

The next spring [1756] the Indians again com- 
menced hostilities against the settlements, small par- 
ties of them being heard from in every quarter, from 
St. Georges to Saco. New Gloucester, especially, 
was so perilous a place that the inhabitants were 
offered the value of two pounds colonial money each, 
if they would stay in the town through the year. 

10. In Windham one morning in May ten men 
started to work upon the farm of one of their number, 
about a mile and a half from the garrison. They were 
all armed with guns, as usual, and had with them a 
yoke of oxen attached to a sled, — for carts were chffi- 
cult to be got in those days. When nearly to the field 
two of them went ahead to let down the bars for the 
oxen, and were shot down by the Indians from an 
ambush. One of them having two balls lodged in his 
heart, died instantly; the other, named Winship, had 
one ball pass through his head near the eye, and 
another lodge in his arm; and he also fell. The In- 
dians scalped them both; but Winship was conscious 
all the time, though feigning to be dead, so as to escape 
the knife or tomahawk of the savages. At the report 



1756 THE SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN WAR. 173 

of the guns four of the men ran back to the fort, while 
the remaming two, Abraham Anderson and Stephen 
Manchester, crept silently forward to the spot, and 
hid behind a great log. Manchester put his cap on 
the end of his gun and pushed it into view of the In- 
dians, from behind a tree ; and one of them instantly 
fired at it, thinking it covered a white man's head. 
As the Indian turned aside to load, Manchester stood 
up and shot him dead on the spot. The other Indians 
instantly gave a loud shout and ran into the woods, 
supposing that a large company was after them. The 
Indian who was shot proved to be a chief named 
Poland, who claimed all the lands on the Presump- 
scot Piver, and had refused to make peace with the 
English until they allowed his claim. 

11. The two men now placed the bodies of their 
companions on the sled and returned to the fort. 
After these had gone, the Indians returned. Bending 
down a small tree until its roots at one side were lifted 
from the ground, they thrust the body of the chief 
underneath ; then the tree, being released, sprang back 
and covered it up ; but they had first cut off an arm, 
to be placed in some consecrated burying ground of 
the Catholic church. 

It would weary you if I should relate the incidents 
of this year in Maine. Everywhere the inhabitants 
fell singly, or by twos and threes before the lurking 
foe; their buildings were burned, their cattle slaugh- 
tered, — and whatever crops escaped the Indians were 
badly damaged by worms, while in many localities the 
inhabitants were wasted by disease. There had been 
no mihtary successes; forts with many regiments of 
troops had been surrendered in the west, the expedi- 
tions up the Kennebec and Androscoggin rivers had 
accomplished nothing; and the people were over- 
whelmed with public debt. It was a terrible year. 

In 1758 several events took place which quite 
revived the spirits of our people. The first was the 



174 HISTORY OF MAIXE. 1"58 

capture of Fort Dn Quesne, at Pittsburg, by Gen- 
eral Forbes, — followed by that of Louisburg, which 
now fell the second time into the hands of the Enghsh. 
In the siege of the latter place the famous General 
Wolfe took a brilliant part ; and the six hundred sol- 
diers furnished by Maine also did themselves honor. 

12. Maine raised at about the same time, three 
hundred men for her own defense. Tliere was need 
of them ; for in August the fort at St. George's was 
attacked by four Imndred French and Indians. For- 
tunately the governor got wind of the movement just 
in time to throw^ a strong reinforcement into the fort ; 
and, unable to gain any advantage, the foe withdrew 
in great rage. Their next attack was on the fort at 
Meduncook, (Friendship) where they Idlled or cap- 
tured eight men, but failed to take the fort. This was 
tlie last notable attack of the Indians upon the Eng- 
lish settlements; and with tiiis season the outrages and 
massacres by the tribes of Maine forever ceased; and. 
the Abnaki, Etechemin and Mikmak have ever since 
been peaceful subjects of the English race. 

13. But the result was not yet secured. Indians 
and French still lield their ground, the one in Canada 
and about the great lakes, and the other in the remote 
forests of Maine. Therefore, in 1 759, Governor Thomas 
Pownal, who had succeeded Shirley, sailed up the 
Penobscot Piver, lookmg for a site whereon to erect 
a fortress. It was the season when the line scenery 
of this river is at its linest; and the governor expressed 
his regret tha.t this noble region had been left so long 
to the savages. 

The place chosen for the fort was a crescent-like 
hill on the western side of the river, in Avhat is now 
the town of Prospect. The fortification was ninety 
feet on each side, and the breastwork was ten feet in 
height. Around it was a ditch fifteen feet -wide and 
live feet deep; and in the midst of the ditch was a 
high palisade, making a fatal obstacle to an Indian 



1759 THE SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN WAR. 175 

enemy. At eacli corner was a flanker thirty-tlii-ee 
feet square, and in the center stood a block house 
fortj-four feet square and two stories high, having a 
sentry box on the top. This fortification was named 
Fort Pownal, in honor of the governor who was its 
builder. 

14. While the fort was being built, Governor Pow- 
nal and General Waldo with a guard explored the 
river to the first falls, in Bangor. General Waldo 
was much interested in the new fort, because it was 
within ,the Muscongiis, or Waldo Patent, in which he 
was a large owner. The northern limit of this patent 
was then tliought to be near the point on the east of 
the river where the party halted. General Waldo, 
walking out a little distance from the others, stopped, 
looked about, and made the remark, "Here is my 
bound." He soon after dropped down in a fit of 
apoplexy, and died on the spot. 

Meanwhile great battles were in progress at the 
west ; and soon the glad news came that Fort Magara 
had surrendered to the English, and that General 
Amherst had driven the enemy from Ticonderoga and 
Crown Point, while a strong force was besieging Que- 
bec. Then the tidings came that the intrepid General 
Wolfe had won a victory over the French on the plains 
of Abraham, sealing the triumpli with his life. 

15. A few days before the fall of Quebec, Colonel 
'Rogers was sent from Ticonderoga with two hundred 
rangers to destroy the Indian villages about the St. 
Francis Kiver, just northwest of Maine. For twenty- 
one days they marched through unbroken wilds, when, 
from the top of a tall pine, one of the men discovered 
the village three miles distant. That night the In- 
dians held a great feast and dance ; and while this 
was going on Colonel Rogers with two of liis officers 
wandered through the village unnoticed. Towards 
morning, when the weary savages Avere sunk in a 
drunken sleep, the rangers fell upon them, kilhng a 



176 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

large number, and putting the rest to utter rout. In 
the morning the victors l)eheld a sight which made 
their blood run cold; for before them, on tall poles in 
the midst of the village, several hundred English 
scalps hung swinging in the wind. 

16. The fall of Quebec fiiied the whole country 
wdth joy, for it was the harbinger of security and 
peace, and of many prosperous years. The towns of 
Maine celebrated the event with illuminations, while 
a day of public thanksgiving was held throughout the 
British dominions. 

The power of France was broken in the north, and 
the long-suffering settlers of Maine no more met the 
Frenchman as a foe. When the trying days of the 
revolution came, the French forces, led by the gallant 
Lafayette, made amends to our young and struggling 
nation for the evils their countrymen had inflicted on 
the fathers, while subjects of Great Britain. 

What unsettled questions brought on the last war with the 
French and Indians ? How far southward had the French ex- 
tended their fortresses ? What noted man first appeared in 
national affairs at this period ? What forts were built in Maine 
about this time ? Where did the Indians make their first attack in 
Maine ? What events occurred in Nova Scotia during this war ? 
Why was war declared against the Tarratines ? What Indian vil- 
lage at the northwest of Maine was destroyed ? What effect did 
the fall of Quebec have ? How did the French nation atone for 
their injuries to our forefathers ? 



1760 Tjjj. DAWN OF THE KEYOLUTION. 177 



CHAPTER XXII. 

1. After years of bloody strife the sun of the 
eastern tribes had set in darkness, and the power which 
had urged them on to useless wars was overthrown. 
It is with a feeling of relief that we turn from scenes 
of savage cruelty to scan the fair fields of peace and 
prosperity. 

The population of Maine in 174-2 (a few years before 
the last Indian war commenced) v/as twelve thousand 
souls, — aside from the Indians, who at the close of this 
war numbered nearly fifteen hundred. The towns 
and plantations at this date had increased to about 
twenty-five ; extending as far eastward as St. George's 
River, northward to Cushnoc (Augusta), and w^est- 
ward to Tow-woh (Lebanon) and New Gloucester. 
The population of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and 
Connecticut had increased greatly beyond that of 
Maine ; for their settlements had not suftered for more 
than a century from the incursion of an enemy,- except 
on their extreme northern borders. But Maine was 
all border ; her small hamlets stretching in a slender 
line along an hundred miles of coast, with a vast wil- 
derness l^ehind them. I think that Massachusetts 
could well aff'ord a few men to garrison our forts ; for 
if the settlements of Maine had been overrun, the sav- 
age foe would have carried terror and destruction into 
her own villages. Surely there was much of heroism 
in the founders of our State, or they would not have 
chosen to come where forests must be felled, and the 
rough earth swept by fire before the seed could be 
planted and crops grown, and wdiere they were ever 
liable to sudden destruction from the revengeful and 
bloodthirsty savage. No wonder that their bodies 
grew sturdy and their manners rude ! Yet if their 



178 HISTORY OF SIAINE, 1^60 

natures were rugged, like the hills among which they 
dwelt, the sweetness of the valleys lived in_ their deep 
affection towards the dear ones for whom they toiled 
and suffered. 

2. In 1760, two new counties were formed, our 
present Lincoln and Cumberland. The boundaries of 
Cumberland have remained nearly unchanged ; but 
Lincoln included all the countiy northward of the 
Androscoggin, and eastward to the St. Croix Kiver. 
Its shire town was Pownalborough ; of which the 
towns of Dresden, Wiscasset and Alna were after- 
wards formed. 

Governor Pownal, for whom this town had been 
named, was much interested for the eastern people, so, 
of course, they greatly esteemed hmi. He was popu- 
lar in Boston, too, though not a Puritan ; and when 
he embarked for England at the close of his official 
term the members of the government attended him to 
his barge. He was afterward a member of Parliament ; 







GOVERNOR THOMAS POWNAL. 



1762 THE DAWX OF THE REVOLUTION. 179 

and by opposing tlio acts of oppression against tlie 
colonies, proved himself a true friend of America. 
Sir Francis Bernard, who a few months later succeeded 
him as governor, was on the contrary, entirely sub- 
servient to the wishes of the Parliament and King. 

The first English settlements east of the Penobscot 
were made shortly before the year 1762. In this year 
twelve townships lying eastward of that river, were 
granted to several hundred petitioners, a few of whom 
had already settled there. The chief condition of these 
grants was, that sixty protestant families sliould become 
resident in each within six years. One lot in each 
township) v/as reserved for a church, another for the 
first minister who sliould be settled there, a third for 
Harvard College, and a fourth for the use of schools. 

3. The years 1761-62 were long remembered in 
Maine for the sickness, drought and fires. In the 
latter year the fresh vegetation of June was shriveled 
and blighted, and in July the flames, breaking out in 
the New Hampshire woods, swept eastward through 
the towns in York and Cumberland counties to the 
sea. It was not until late in August that their devas- 
tation was checked by copious rains. 

Soon after the close of Lovewell's war. Parliament 
made several laws, called Acts of Trade, for the pur- 
pose of benefiting British revenues. One was the 
"Iron Act," by which all mills for working iron or 
steel were prohibited in the colonies; so that they 
were obliged to export the "pigs" (or bars of iron) from 
their mines to England, taking in return, in accordance 
with another law, woolen cloths and other fabrics, 
and implements of iron and steel. There was still 
another law imposing a high import tax on the mo- 
lasses and sugar which the colonists of Maine received 
from the West Indies in return for lumber; this and 
fish being nearly all they had to sell. Then the mo- 
lasses and sugar had to be carried to the southern 
colonies to pay for their corn and pork; so that by 



180 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^65 

this time little remained to be tm*ned into money or 
other property. Kow that the wars had ceased, these 
laws were enforced with rigor ; and the Britisli gov- 
ernment began to plan how it might realize still 
greater revenues from America. So in 1765 Parlia- 
ment passed tlie celebrated "Stamp Act," by which 
all papers for ships, transfers of property, college 
diplomas, marriage licenses, and newspapers must be 
made of stamped paper, which was supplied at a high 
price by the government. 

4. The feeling in Maine was strong against these 
oppressions, though few acts of violence were com- 
mitted on account of them; but in other parts of the 
country the boldest royalists and stamp-masters were 
hung in effigy, and the latter forced to resign their 
offices. In England that great man, William Pitt, 
Earl of Chatham, said in a speech before Parliament 
on this act, "Sir, I rejoice that America has resisted. 
Three millions of people, so dead to all the feelings 
of liberty as to submit to be slaves, would have been 
fit instruments to make slaves of all the rest." 

Yet no representative of the colonies was admitted 
to a seat in Parliament ; and our countrymen boldly 
declared that ^^Taxatiori without representation is 
tyranny P In 1766 the obnoxious act was repealed; 
and the event was celebrated in Maine by bonfires and 
illuminations, the firing of cannon and display of fiags. 
The next year another form of taxation was tried on 
the colonies; a duty being imposed upon all paper, 
glass, colors, and teas brought into the country. This 
tax was not, like the former, opposed by force; but the 
representatives of the colonies met together and ex- 
pressed their detestation of British exactions, and took 
all lawful means for the redress of their wrongs; 
recommending the people to a manly defense of their 
rights, whether it brought rehef or led to warlike 
resistance. Meanwhile by means of newspapers, ora- 
tions and pamphlets, patriots like Samuel and John 



1768 Tjjj, DA^Yj^ OF THE KE VOLUTION. 181 

Adams, with Otis and Mayliew, in Boston, Livingston 
of New Yorlv, and Gadsden of South Carohna, instruct- 
ed the people in their rights and stimulated the spirit of 
liberty in their breasts. 

5. In 1768 seven hmidred British soldiers arrived 
at Boston to enforce these iniquitous laws. They 
landed under cover of the guns of their vessels, and 
with loaded muskets and bayonets fixed, marched up 
to the Common. This, of course, greatly incensed the 
people; and Governor Bernard, being imable to pre- 
vail on the General Court to agree to any of his 
measures, the next year departed from the country 
in great disgust. His successor, Thomas Hutchinson, 
was a native of Boston, and a man of learning, ability 
and wealth ; but, hoping to receive from the Idng an 
order of nobility, he became a foe to the liberties of 
his country. Having a familiar acquaintance with the 
people, he thought he could carry the king's measures 
by persuasion and skilful management. So the duty 
was taken off most of the articles in the new tax list, 
with the principal exception of tea. 

Such a concession might have satisfied the people 
at first, but it did not now; and they formed associa- 
tions, the members of wdiich were pledged to drink no 
tea, in order thus to make a peaceable protest against 
the tax. IS^ot that they cared much for so small a 
matter of itself, but their eyes were now open to see 
the danger and wickedness of being taxed by a gov- 
ernment in Vv'hich they had no representative. 

G. Soon after this a sad affair happened in Boston. 
General Gage had sent some of his red-coated soldiers 
from IS^ew York to aid Hutchinson in governing Bos- 
ton. Parties of them in passing through the streets 
were often gazed at and followed by idle men and rude 
boys, who were called by the soldiers, ''Damned Yan- 
kees," and "Bebels" ; while the rabble retorted by 
shouting, "Lobsters," and "Bloody Backs." The last 
taunt was a very bitter one to the soldiers; for it was 



182 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^'^ 

in allusion to the practice of flogging wliich then pre- 
vailed in the British army. So the soldiers and the 
rabble quickly got to quarreling; and one day (the 
fifth of March, ITTO,) the soldiers fired on a party of 
sailors who attacked them, kilHng four and wounding 
several others. This was the famous "Boston Mas- 
sacre," which produced such excitement. 

7. In Maine there had long been a bitterness 
between the surveyors of the king's woods and the 
lumbermen, which led to frequent fisticufls; but the 
afikir at Portland in 1771 was the first in our State 
which had special relation to the Revolution. The 
long's collector of revenue at this port was absent; 
and the comptroller, who Vv^as next in authority, seized 
the schooner of Mr. Tyng, then in liarbor, for the 
breach of some rule or other. This act was regarded 
by the people of Portland as unv/arrantable, and pro- 
duced great resentment, — at last resulting in a mob, 
which treated the unfortunate comptroller with the 
indignities common with such gatherings. 

8. As tjie people of the colonies refused to drink 
tea the merchants refused to buy it ; and the tiers of 
tea chests grew higher and higher in the warehouses 
of the East India Company in England. Sometliing 
must be done, or the company would sufier great loss ; 
so in December, 1773, they sent several shiploads of 
the article to America. You knov/ what happened 
then. Some men dressed like Indians went on board 
the vessels and broke open the boxes of the dainty 
lierb, and threw them overboard, until they reached 
up the ship's sides and tumbled back on deck; for 
just at that time the tide was out, and tlie heaps qI' 
tea chests rested on the dock mud. 

9. This affair alarmed Governor Hutchinson, and 
soon after he, also, left for England; and he never 
came back. Then General Gage was appointed gov- 
ernor; thus becoming the chief ruler of Maine, as well 
as Massachusetts, because we were then a part of the 



1774 THE DAWN OF THE REVOLUTION. 183 

same province. The king and the tory members of 
his government were very much enraged at the spoil- 
ing of the tea; and Parhament ordered the port of 
Boston to be closed from the first day of June, 1774. 
"When the order went into effect the bells of Falmouth 
and other towns in Maine tolled all day in token of 
sympathy with the oppressed city. On the 17th, 
Governor Gage dissolved the General Court, — but 
they had already chosen delegates to meet others from 
the colonies in a congress at Philadelphia. 

10. Tlie people of Maine and Massachusetts soon 
after elected representatives,* who met in Salem in 
October. They formed themselves into a Provincial 
Congress, and chose John Hancock as its president. 
They also elected a Committee of Safety, and a Com- 
mittee of Supplies, and chose five delegates to repre- 
sent Maine and Massachusetts in the new Continental 
Congress. They also made laws for the formation 
and drill of military companies in every town, and 
recommended the people to grow more flax, to be 
made into linen, and to enlarge their flocks of sheep, 
so as to produce more wool, — that the colonies might 
be prepared for the events which seemed to be ap- 
proaching. 

What was the population of Maine in 1742 ? How many settle- 
ments were there at this date ? Why had not the population of 
Maine increased as rapidly as that of other New England States ? 
What counties v,^ere formed in 1760 ? At what time were the first 
English settlements made east of the Penobscot ? What happened 
in Maine in the year 17G1-G2 ? How did Great Britain oppress the 
colonies at the close of the Indian wars ? What great principle 
did our forefathers proclaim ? What noted affray took place in 
1770 ? What was the first outbreak connected with the Revolution 
in Maine ? What happened in Boston in 1773 ? What was done 
by the people of Maine and Massachusetts soon after this event ? 



184 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^775 



CHAPTER XXm. 

1. Ill Mardi, 1775, the Canseau, a British sloop of 
war, came to Fahnouth, (Porthiud) for the purpose of 
forcing the citizens to allow the unloading of a tory 
vessel. She was commanded by Captain Mowatt, who 
afterwards proved the especial scourge of Maine. From 
Falmouth he went to the Penobscot, where he robbed 
Fort Pownal of all its guns and ammunition, and 
nearly broke up the rich trade here carried on with 
the natives. 

Government had at this point taken especial care 
for the comfort of the Indians, having* erected build- 
ings for their use when they came to trade. It had 
also supplied a devoted minister of the gospel for the 
benefit of the garrison and such natives as would listen 
to his instructions. One or more ministers had also 
long been sustained at or near Fort Shirley, on the 
Kennebec; and the Indians on these rivers, being re- 
lieved from French influence, became so favorably in- 
clined toward the colonists that neither the British 
agents nor their brethren in Xew Brunswick were able 
to prevail upon them to take up arms against their 
white neighbors. 

In the very next month after Mowatt's visit the bat- 
tle of Lexington v^as fought, giving the signal of open 
war throughout the colonies. The news arrived in 
York at evening. In the morning the citizens flocked 
together, a company was enhsted, armed and equipped, 
and the following night it reached New Hampshire on 
the way to Boston. Three days later Falmouth sent 
a company ; and sliortly after. Colonel Scammon of 
Biddeford reached Cambridge with a regiment. ISTew 
Gloucester raised twenty men, paying their wages and 



1 "'•■'» EARLY EVENTS OP THE REVOLUTION. 185 

supporting tlieir families during their absence. Thus 
did our good State of Maine answer the summons of 
liberty. 

2. The inhabitants eastward were too remote and 
scattered to furnish any more troops than were neces- 
sary to protect their own exposed borders ; yet, as we 
shall see, they were not in the least behind their wes- 
tern brothers in courage and patriotism. When the 
news of Lexington fight reached Bath, the people de- 
cided that war had begun, and that all persons under 
British control must be treated as enemies of American 
liberty. It happened that a company of British were 
then preparing masts at the king's dock ; and Colonel 
Sewall, with thirty other inhabitants, marched down 
to seize tliem. The workmen hastily jumped into their 
boats and got on board the vessels, which then sailed 
away down the river and escaped ; but the naval 
agent was left in the hands of the citizens. 

A few days after this affair. Lieutenant Colonel 
Tliompson, of Brunswick or Topsham, learned that 
the Canseau was again at Falmouth, and that her com- 
mander, Captain Mowatt, spent much time on shore ; 
and, raising a company of volunteers, he proceeded 
thither in hopes to capture him. The standard of the 
company was a spruce pole with a green tuft at the top, 
while each man had a sprig of evergreen in his cap. 
Having ascertained that Captaiii Mowatt was to dine 
on shore, they concealed themselves in a small wood 
on the east side of the peninsula and awaited his ap- 
pearance. The dinner hour passed; and soon the cap- 
tain, his surgeon and a citizen sauntered down near 
the grove, and all three were quietly taken prisoners. 

3. When the capture become known on board his 
vessel, the officer next in connnand sent w^ord to the 
authorities, that unless Captain Mowatt w^as released 
within two hours he would bombard tlie town. Tliis 
created great alarm ; and many began to pack their 
goods and send them off in carts into the country. 



186 niSTOPwY OF MAINE. ^775 

But Mowatt promised the town autliorities that if they 
would permit him to go on board his vessel he would 
prevent the bombardment ; so two of the leading citi- 
zens became security to Colonel Thompson for liim, 
and he was permitted to depart, on agreement to re- 
tmm the next morning. He professed the utmost gra- 
titude to the citizens for their interference in his favor ; 
but, onco on board his sloop, he staid there ; and sail- 
ing away, left his sureties to pay the forfeit. 

Then came the battle of Bunker Hill, where the 
brilliant ranks of the British marched up towards the 
silent breastworks, and "Old Put" rode back and forth 
upon his white horse, — when the silent breastworks sud- 
denly became sheeted with flame, and there was rattle 
of musketry and roar of cannon, — where the smoke of 
burning Charleston poured about them, and the swell- 
ing forces of the British still came on, until the out- 
numbered patriots, with powder spent and useless guns, 
retired before the bristhng bayonets of the enemy. 
There were Maine men wlio fought bravely in the 
ranks that day, and some were left lying in their gore 
upon the bloody field. 

4. There were also desperate conflicts at home, and 
successful ones, though not on so grand a scale. In May 
the Margranetto, an armed schooner of the enemy, came 
to Machias for the purpose of convoying some lumber 
vessels to the British at Boston. Seeing a liberty pole, 
the captain came on shore and inquired who erected 
it. He was informed that it was done by order of the 
town. He told them it must be taken down, or ]ie 
would fire upon the village. The citizens held a meet- 
ing and voted not to take it down. Some were dissat- 
isfied, and another meeting was appointed for the next 
Monday. On Sunday the captain and some of his 
officers attended church in the village. Happening to 
look out of the window during the service, he saw a 
company of men armed with guns crossing the river 
on tlie logs. The frightened captain qni^kly leaped 



l'''^ EARLY EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION. 187 

out of the window and fled to liis vessel. Tlie band 
wliicli had sent him off in such haste consisted of 
Benjamin Foster and some other bold young fellows, 
whose plan it had been to surround the church and 
seize the British as they came out. A few shots were 
exchanged between this party and the schooner, but 
she soon sailed down the river beyond their reach. 

5. The next day Foster and his company were 
joined by six line brothers, named O'Brien, with an- 
other company. In the course of a day or two both 
had set oif in search of the Margranetto ; Foster in a 
small coaster, and the O'Briens in the wood sloop, 
"Liberty." They found the schooner in the bay, and 
ran alono-side with the intention of boardino;. She 
received them with a discharge of swivel guns, mus- 
kets and hand grenades, by which several were killed. 
The vessels fell apart, only John O'Brien, one of the 
six brothers, havmg got on board the enemy. Seven 
of the British instantly fired at him, but not a bullet 
touched liim. Then they charged upon him with their 
bayonets; but before they could reacli him he was 
overboard, and swimming to his sloop. Several of 
the enemy had fallen by the fire of the Americans, 
and among them their captain ; and when the vessels 
were again brought together the oflicer in command 
fled below in terror, and the crew yielded at once. 
This was the first British vessel captured by Ameri- 
cans; and the action brought the captors much 
applause. 

6. O'Brien's sloop was then fitted up with bulwarks, 
armed with the guns of the captured schooner, and 
sent off" on a cruise. A month later she fell in at 
Buck's Harbor with two vessels which had been sent 
out to recapture the Margranetto. These were the 
Diligent, a schooner of eight guns and carrying fifty 
men, with her tender, armed with svrivels and carrying 
twenty men. Foster, in liis coaster, came to O'Brien's 
aid ; and the Dili2;ent and her tender were captured 

9 



188 HISTORY OF MAINE. I'^S 

without the loss of a man. For these brilliant exploits 
Foster and the O'Briens received the thanks of Con- 
gress. 

Only once since Mowatt dishonored his word and 
sailed away, had the good people of Falmouth suffered 
the least intimidation from the enemy ; that was when 
a sloop of war came to help away some tories with 
their goods. Again in October the inhabitants were 
alarmed by the sight of four British vessels entering 
their harbor ; but when they saw that Mowatt's vessel 
was the flag ship of the squadron their minds were 
more at ease; because they trusted in his gratitude 
for the favor they had done him five months before. 
Great was their consternation when, the next day, he 
sent a letter ashore, stating that in two hours he 
should open a bombardment on the town. 

7. At this time the place consisted of about five 
hundred dwelHngs and stores, with many barns and 
stables. Some hundred of the poorer sort of houses 
were scattered over the peninsula to the south and 
west, but the main portion were clustered together in 
the midst of the slope towards the harbor. The place 
was entirely defenseless from an attack by sea; but as 
no provocation had been given no such event was 
looked for. The time allowed the inhabitants to 
secure their safety was cruelly short; and a committee 
was sent to inquire the cause of such an extraordinary 
proceeding. Mowatt made them tliis answer: — "My 
orders I have received from Admu-al Graves, and they 
du-ect me to repair to this place with all possible ex- 
pedition, take my position near the town, and burn, 
sink and destroy, — and this without giving the people 
warning. The note you have had is of special grace, 
at the risk of my commission." 

8. The committee protested against the barbarity 
of the order, and urged the town's claims for the favor 
done him a few months ago by its citizens ; but he only 
replied that his orders related to every seaport upon 



1775 EARLY EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION. 189 

the continent. Yet lie finally said that if they would 
deliver him four pieces of cannon, their small arms 
and their ammunition by eight o'clock the next morn- 
ing, he would spare them until he could hear from the 
admiral, who might be induced to spare the town; or 
if they would giv^e him eight stands of small arms 
immediately they should not be molested until the 
hour named. They were completely at the mercy of 
this petty tyrant ; and in order to save something from 
their homes to keep their families alive, they sent him 
the eight stands of arms. At daylight the next morn- 
ing the citizens held a meeting, and resolved to give 
up nothing more, but to sacrifice their dwellings rather 
than lose the remainder of their precious guns and 
ammunition. 

The committee informed Captain Mowatt of the 
decision, and besought him for humanity's sake to 
allow them further tmie. 

"I will give you thirty mmutes and no more," re- 
plied the cruel and ungrateful man. 

9. There were feAV teams in the place, and most 
of the household goods still remained in the dwellings 
or piled up before the doors when the vessels opened 
their batteries upon the town. The firing was rapid, 
and the cannon balls, bombs and grape shot poured 
in a terrible shower upon the defenseless \dllage. Ko 
spot was safe from them, and the inhabitants were 
forced to flee for their lives — many of them saving 
only what the}^ bore away on tlieir backs. Under 
cover of the guns, armed parties came from the ships and 
applied the torch to the buildings; yet the citizens, 
with devoted courage, followed after them, putting 
out the fires at the risk of their fives; but in spite of 
their efforts the flames prevailed. Towards night the 
bombardment ceased, but the fair and flourishing vil- 
lage of yesterday was riddled with shot and sliell, or 
lay in ashes. St. Paul's church, the new court-house, 
the town-house, the public hbrary, the fire engine, — 



190 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^775 

all were gone ; and the houseless people gazed from 
afar on the fading smoke columns that marked the 
places of then- desolated homes, 

10. Scattered over the peninsula there were still 
nearly an hundred houses whicli had escaped the bom- 
bardment; and the owners of these, with such other 
of the inhabitants as decided to remain, began at once 
to prepare against any future attack. All the heavy 
arms tliey could procure were two six pounders ; and 
before the walls of the battery were built, another 
vessel came into the harbor and forbade their c:oin£: 
on with the work. She carried a heavier armament 
than all of Mowatt's fleet put together ; but the people 
only pressed their fortifications more ^dgoronsly, and 
began to contrive ways to capture the vessel. As 
soon as the commander found his threats disregarded, 
he hoisted sail and left the harbor, — probably think- 
ing that lie had a good ship to lose, but nothing to 
gain. 

What fort was dismantled by Capt. Mo watt? How soon after 
this did the battle of Lexington take place ? What troops were 
immediately sent from Maine ? What happened at Bath ? What 
affair occurred soon after in Falmouth ? Where was the first cap- 
ture of British vessels made by Americans ? Give an account of 
the burning of Falmouth. What happened subsequently when a 
vessel of the enemy threatened the place ? 



i'''^ Arnold's expeditiox. 191 



CHAPTER XXIY. 

1. The expedition against Quebec through Maine, 
in 1775, was one of the most famous, and also one of 
the most unfortunate events of the Revohition. It 
was led by that traitor to his country, Benedict 
Arnold. His army consisted of ten companies of 
musketry, mostly from Maine and Massachusetts, and 
three companies of riflemen, from Pennsylvania and 
Yirginici, — altogether about 1,100 men. Several per- 
sons connected with this expedition afterward became 
noted as war leaders and public men ; among whom 
were Daniel Morgan, commander of the riflemen; 
Aaron Burr, the wicked Yice President, then a youth 
of twenty ; and Henry Dearborn, of Pittston on the 
Kennebec, who became Secretary of War. The plan 
was to ascend Kennebec Kiver and its chief western 
tributary to the range of hills which forms the boun- 
dary of Maine on the northwest, whence they would 
soon strike the head waters of the Chaudiere, a river 
emptying into the St. Lawrence. The expedition sailed 
from Newburyport on the 16th of September ; and, 
entering the Kennebec, ascended to Pittston, where 
two hundred bateaux were in readiness. Dismissing 
the vessels, the troops entered the bateaux and con- 
tinued on to Fort Western, in Augusta, where they 
spent several days in procuring guides and provisions. 

2. First of all went a small exploring party ; after 
this followed Morgan with the riflemen, then Green, 
Bigelow and Meigs with the main body of the troops, 
while Colonel Enos brought up the rear. Arnold staid 
to see the last boat load depart ; then, entering an 
Indian canoe, he passed one company after another, 
overtaking the riflemen on the tlmxl day at Bombazee 
Eips in Norridgewock. Here the boats had all to be 



192 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1"75 

drawn ashore and carried a mile and a quarter to reach 
the navigable water above. It was found that the 
boats were leaky, and that a gi'eat part of the provis- 
ion was spoiled or damaged ; and seven days elapsed 
before repairs were completed and they again em- 
barked on the river. 

After passing Carratunk Falls the stream grew 
so rapid that the men were obliged to wade and push 
the boats more than half the way to the Great Carry- 
ing Place, twelve miles below the Forks. The carry 
was fourteen miles long; but three httle ponds on the 
way aiforded tliem as many rests, and a plenty of de- 
licious trout. Then they met Dead Kiver flowing calmly 
through grand old forests resplendent A\ath all the 
brilhant hues of autumn. Passing falls and rapids, 
they at length beheld rising above the woods a lofty 
mountain already white Avith snow. Here Arnold en- 
camped for three days, displaying from a tall staff over 
his tent the Continental iiag ; while Major Bigelow 
ascended the mountain in the vain hope of seeing the 
sph*es of Quebec. The tovvmsliip in which the camps 
were pitched is now called Flagstaff Plantation, and 
the mountain bears the name of Bigelow, in commem- 
oration of these events. 

3. Soon after leaving this point a heavy rain storm 
set in. The water rushed in torrents down the liills, 
the river channel filled with drift wood, and the water 
burst into the valley where the soldiers were encamped 
^vitli such suddenness that they had scarcely time to 
retreat to the bateaux before the whole plain was cov- 
ered with water. Worse than all, seven boats were 
upset, and the stores lost ; leaving them only twelve 
days provisions, with thirty miles more of hills, woods 
and marshes between them and the head waters of the 
Chandler e. Many had become sick from toil and ex- 
posure, and were sent back to the division of Colonel 
Enos, who was now ordered to send the invalids to the 
settlements, and come on as fast as possible with his 



1^75 Arnold's expedition. 193 

best men, and provisions for fifteen days. He had 
only three days provisions ; and, at a council of his 
officers, it was decided that the whole division must 
return or perish. 

The rain had changed to snov/, and the ponds, 
marshes and streams became covered with ice ; yet the 
men vv^ere often o])liged to wade and push the bateaux. 
Many of the boats were abandoned, for the oxen had 
been killed for food ; and everything had to be carried 
by the men. On the 27th of October the boats were 
lifted for the last time from the waters of Maine, and 
a portage of four miles brought them to a small stream 
down which they urged the remaining bateaux to Lake 
Megantic, tiie chief source of the Chaudiere. 

4. The next morning a party of fifty-five men w^as 
sent forward throu<>:h the woods to the French settle- 
ments, still seventy miles further, for provisions, while 
Arnold with thirteen men set off in five bateaux and a 
canoe. They were without a guide ; and no sooner had 
they left the lake and entered the river than they were 
obliged to lash their freight to the boats lest it should 
be thrown overboard by the turbulent current. The 
roar of the stream increased. Three boats were 
dashed in pieces upon the rocks, their contents lost, 
and their crews left struggling in the water. 

The main body of the troops followed on as rap- 
idly as they could. In a few days nothing was left 
except a little flour, which was eaten with water with- 
out salt. On coming near the sandy beach of the river 
some keen-eyed soldier would be seen to dart from the 
ranks down to the water's edge, closely followed by 
half a dozen more. They had caught sight of some 
water plant, supposed to be eatable, and the foremost 
man dug it up with his fingers and instantly devoured 
it without washing. A little lean dog belonging to one 
of the officers disappeared one night, and the next 
day a few of the soldiers had some thin, greenish fluid 
which they called bear's broth, though no one had 



194 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1775 

heard that a bear had been killed. Old moose hide 
breeches were boiled and then broiled on the coals, 
and eaten. Many men died with hunger and fatigue, 
frequently four or five minutes after making their last 
effort and sitting down. 

5. Friday, ISTovember 3d, was a memorable day to 
the little army. Weary, despairing, starving^ few 
could have kept on much longer, when they were met 
by some cattle sent back by the advanced party with 
Arnold. They were saved from starvation ; but most 
of them lived for a bloodier death. After many un- 
necessary delays Arnold led them against the strong city 
of Quebec, but the golden moment had passed. The 
garrison had been reinforced, and hundreds of these 
brave men, who, for the sake of gaining this import- 
ant post, had endured the toil and famine of the wil- 
derness, lay down before the fatal hail of the artillery, 
making the blood-stained snow their winding sheet. 
The brave Montgomery and his victorious little army, 
fresh from the capture of Montreal, shared their fate. 
More than four hundred Americans fell in this attack, 
while four hundred more were taken captive, and suf- 
fered many months of severe imprisonment. 

6. By the close of the year 1775, the Continental 
Congress was fully entered upon its labors of law-mak- 
ing. Post offices were established and put in operation 
from Maine to Georgia ; and during the winter the mihtia 
was arranged anew. Massachusetts was formed into 
four military divisions, — Maine being one by itself. 
The militia of each county constituted a brigade, wliich 
w^as again sub-divided into regiments and companies. 
John Frost, of Kittery, was Brigadier General of 
York county, Samuel Thompson, of Brunswick, com- 
manded the Cumberland militia, and the officer for 
Lincoln county was Charles Cushing of Pownalborough. 

The British cruisers were on our coast, and the 
militia was at once put in condition to meet the red- 
coats wherever they might set foot on our shores. 



1776 THE WAR IN THE EAST. 195 

Falmouth was partially rebuilt, having fortifications 
mounting six cannon, and she now felt herself com- 
petent with the aid of the militia to beat back any force 
the British might send against her. But Greneral 
Washington had driven the British army out of Boston 
and early in the summer their vessels mostly went 
southward. 

On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress declared 
the thirteen United Colonies to be Free and Independ- 
ent. In Maine the ministers read the Declaration to 
their people, and the town clerks entered it at full 
length in their records. We had a country, now, and 
were no longer rebellious subjects of a foreign power, 
but citizens and sovereigns of Independent States. The 
question w^as no longer whether we would be able to 
obtain our rights of Great Britain, but whether we 
would be a Nation or a subjugated people. Tories 
were no longer a political party, but enemies, spies and 
traitors, and to be treated as such, or in pity allowed 
to depart from the country. This Independence in- 
fused spirit into the people ; and the citizens of Maine 
wanted to be doing something by which it might be 
secured forever. 

7. Therefore in September of this year an expe- 
dition set out from Machias to capture Fort Cumber- 
land on Chignecto Bay in Nova Scotia. Tlie force 
consisted only of a schooner and a few whale boats, 
carrying seventy men. The commander was John- 
athan Eddy, who had formerly lived in the neighbor- 
hood of the fort, but had been driven away by the 
authorities because he wished that province to join the 
other colonies. At Chepody Hill, not far from the fort, 
Colonel Eddy's men captured fifteen soldiers with their 
captain. Two or three days later a vessel came into 
the harbor with supplies for the garrison, and Colonel 
Eddy with twenty-five men sallied out afoot over the 
flats during a fog, and made her a prize. Many of 
Eddy's old neighbors joined him, so that he soon had 
a force of one hundred and fifty men. 



196 HISTOKY OF MAINE. 1776 

At lengtli on a cloudy night the attack was made 
on the fort. Its embankments were very high, and 
along the top were placed heavy logs, ready to roll 
down npon any assailants. The garrison had been 
reinforced and was expecting the assault ; and Colonel 
Edd}^ was repulsed with much loss. Tlie result of 
this expedition was very painful. Tlie enemy pursued 
the little band, destroyed their camp, and captured their 
vessels, forcing them to make their retreat tlirougli the 
wilderness. After twenty-live days of toil and suffer- 
ing the straggling remnant arrived at Macliias, hungry 
and gaunt, withclotliinglialf stripped from tlieu- bodies. 
Tlie houses of such as lived at Chignecto were burned 
by troops from the fort, and their families left home- 
less and destitute until the next spring, when, after ex- 
treme sufferings, they were brought away by a vessel 
under a flag of truce. 

8. Anotlier patriotic refugee from I^ova Scotia, 
John Allan, had been a member of the General Assem- 
bly of the province, but sympathized so openly in the 
American cause that he was obliged to fly for his life, 
and had not even time to bring away his family. At 
the failure of the attack on Fort Cumberland his house 
w\a3 plundered and burned with the rest, and his wife 
thrown into prison. Congress made him its agent to 
keep the Indians from joining the British, who were 
using every means to win them. If they had succeed- 
ed, all of Maine east of the Penobscot would probably 
have now been a part of the British dominions. Col- 
onel Allan spent most of his time with the Passama- 
quoddy Indians, keeping a government store for the 
benefit of this and other tribes. 

After the Indians had joined with the Americans in 
the repulse of the vessels at Machias, they were in 
much dread of the British, and rehed greatly on Col- 
onel Allan for counsel and aid in case of an attack 
upon them. They were also very much attached to 
him; yet, as he was obliged to leave them frequently 



1777 THE WAR IN THE EAST. 197 

for otlier duties, tliey feared lie might forsake them 
entirely ; and at last they refused to permit his depar- 
ture unless he left his two hoys as security for his return. 
These hoys remained with the tribe two years ; and 
though they must havfe found much to enjoy, they 
were many times obhged to live on fish, parched corn, 
and seal's flesh, and were often ragged, hungry and 
miserable. Their father did the best he could to keep 
up their courage and character under these difficult 
conditions ; often writing them such letters as the fol- 
lowing : 

9. ''Be very kind to the Indians, and take particu- 
lar notice of Nicholas, Francis, Joseph and old Cou- 
cou-guash. I send you books, paper, pens and ink, 
wafers, and some otlier little things ; shall send more 
in two or three days. Let me entreat you, my dear 
children, to be careful of your company and manners, 
be moral, sober and discreet. Duly observe your duty 
to the Almighty, morning and night. Mind the Sab- 
bath day, not to have either work or play, except 
necessity compels you. I pray God to bless you, my 
dear boys." 

In 1777, Machias was made a national military sta- 
tion, and supplied with two nine pounders, and garri- 
soned with three hundred men under Colonel Allan. 
The British remembered well the previous exploits of 
the Machias people, and as soon as the admiral heard at 
New York of this new movement he despatched a 
naval force to destroy the town and to defend tlie Nova 
Scotia coasts against the troublesome people of Maine. 
In August of this year, and before a garrison was col- 
lected together, a sloop, two frigates and a brig anchor- 
ed in Machias River. Ha vino* burned a tide mill and 
taken a coasting sloop, they sent the brig, the sloop, 
and some barges laden with soldiers up the west branch 
to destroy whatever came in their way, •They landed 
at "Indian Brim," where they burned down a few 
buildings ; then, the wind having died away, they towed 



198 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^^^ 

their l)rig and sloop up river to a point witliin a mile 
and a half from the falls. 

10. Bjthis time it was late in the afternoon, and the 
people had learned the position of the enemy, and 
gathered for the attack. The barges had come up to 
within half a mile of the falls, and here the firing 
commenced upon them from both banks of the river. 
The men were speedily driven from the barges on l)oard 
tlie ^loop and brig, which drifting down river, made 
the guns of the British very uncertain in their aim. 
Soon the brig ran aground, and such a shower of bul- 
lets was poured down on the deck from the banks that 
the men were obliged to go below to save their hves. 
At length a breeze sprang up in a favorable quarter, 
and the vessels succeeded in getting oft'. Every man 
in town capal^le of bearing arms had now found his 
place somewhere along the river, and watched to get 
a shot at the invaders. Colonel Allan had brought 
down his Indians who whooped in their peculiar way 
from their hiding places, and the white people who were 
scattered through the woods along the river imitated 
then* yells, until the retreating marines thought the 
forests full of wild warriors. The British were quite 
discouraged by this experience from attempting any- 
tliing more ; and a day or two later the squadron left 
the harbor. 

The great event of this year was the surrender of 
the British army under Burgoyne to General Gates at 
Saratoga; and the news gave a joyful close to the sea- 
son's campaign in Maine. 

What famous expedition passed up the Kennebec in 1775? 
"What noted men were connected with it ? What was the result of 
this expedition ? What was done by Congress at the close of the 
year ? What effect did the declaration of independence have in 
Maine? What was the result of Johnathan Eddy's expedition 
against Fort Ctimberland ? What valuable service did Col. John 
Allan render to the American cause ? Describe the action with the 
British at Machias ? What great victory occurred near the close of 
the year ? 



1778 EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION. 199 



CHAPTER XXY. 

1. The Continental cuiTency, which was ahnost 
the only money in circulation, had constantly fallen in 
value, until at this time it took thirty dollars in bills to 
equal one in specie. Six dollars in currency was the 
price of a pair of stockings; sev^en dollars were paid 
for a pair of common cowhide shoes, — while beef was 
five and six dollars a pound. In 1779 corn sold for 
thirty-five dollars per bushel, wheat meal for about 
seventy-five dollars, molasses at sixteen dollars a gal- 
lon, and tea at nineteen dollars a pound. Yet the high 
price of some of these articles was owing partially to 
the injury of the crops by drought. Surely these were 
times when men's courage and strength were tried to 
the utmost. The pay received by a private soldier 
was insufficient to keep his family from want ; yet the 
ranks of the army, thinned by battle and disease, must 
be filled up, — if not by volunteers, then by draft. 

2. Early in the year 1778 Hon. John Adams was 
appointed minister at the French Court. This was 
an important appointment; for it was hoped that 
France would l)e induced to aid us in our arduous 
struggle. His safe conveyance to that country was 
entrusted to Commodore Tucker, afterward a citizen 
of Bremen in this state. He was then in command of 
the frigate Boston, and in February he sailed for 
France with Mr. Adams on l)oard. He soon found 
himself pursued by three British ships, which had been 
on the watch for the minister's departure. It is diffi- 
cult to escape from two swift vessels, the fugitive 
being almost sure to be intercepted on one side or the 
other ; but if there is a third to follow up in a direct 
line it must ordinarily be impossible to avoid an en- 
counter. By uncommon skill in maneuvering Tucker 



200 HISTORY OF MAIXE. '^'^''^ 

eluded tliem for several days. As they entered the 
Gulf Stream a great storm arose, and the Boston saw 
its pursuers no more. 

3. A few days later they discovered an English 
ship ahead; and this both the captain and his noble 
passenger desired to capture. Mr. Adams, having 
obtained a musket, placed himself among the marines 
with the determination of taking a part in the fight. 
Captain Tucker soon caught sight of the minister; 
and, stepping up to him, placed a hand upon his 
shoulder, saying sternly, "Mr. Adams, I am com- 
manded by the Continental Congress to deliver you 
safe in France, and you must go below, sir." Mr. 
Adams smiled and went down to the cabin. 

When within range a shot was fired at the Martha, 
wliich was the name of the enemy^s vessel, to bring 
her to. She replied by a discharge of three guns, 
wliich cut away some of the rio-ging ; and a piece from 
the mizzen came down upon the captain's head, felling 
him to the deck. But he was upon his feet the next 
moment, and soon had his frigate in position for a rak- 
ing fire upon the enemy. The marines Avere at their 
posts, the great guns were shotted, the matchstocks of 
the gunners were smoking, — still the order to fire was 
not given. The men grew impatient, and began to mur- 
mur and swear bitterly that so fine a chance should be 
allowed to pass, — wlien the commander shouted in 
that stentorian voice for which he was famous, "Hold 
on, ray men; I wish to save that egg without breaking 
the shell." They did not have to wait long; for the 
enemy overheard the order, and took the hint; and 
his flag came down immediately. 

tt. It is said that Tucker captured more guns from 
the enemy than any other naval commander of the 
Kevolution. By his success he amassed considerable 
property, and resided in a fine mansion on a fashionable 
street in Boston; but, becoming fatally addicted to 
strong di-ink, he lost his standing with government, 



1779 EVENTS OF THE EEVOLUTIOX. 201 

liis property slipped from liis hands, and lie was reduced 
at length to a farm in Bristol, Maine, where in a rough 
house of three rooms he and his family lived many 
years. 

The ambassador had been safely landed in France ; 
and in the following June, Count d'Estaing reached 
our shores with a fleet to aid the American cause. 
This event, with the success of our arms in the battle 
of Monmouth, lifted the gloomy clouds and gave 
assurance that Independence would finally be won. 

In 1779 Congress divided the whole country mto 
districts, for the purposes of revenue and better admin- 
istration of national laws; and thus it was that we 
became the District of Maine, — still a part of Massa- 
chusetts, yet having a United States court and the 
district officers, as we have had ever since. 

5. The British commanders now saw that some- 
thing must be done to check Maine, or she would 
wrest Nova Scotia from them; so in July, 1779, Gen- 
eral McLane with a force of seven or eight vessels 
and nine hundred men, came to Penobscot and took 
possession of Castine. The place was undefended; 
and the larger portion of the fleet soon departed, 
leaving three sloops of war under Mo watt to assist 
the troops in holding the position. Steps were im- 
mediately taken to dislodge them; and about the 
middle of July a flotilla reached Townsend (now 
Boothbay) Harbor, where the land forces awaited 
them. The fleet was commanded by Commodore 
Saltonstall, of Connecticut, and had on board a few 
companies of marines and a company of ordnance 
under Col. Paul Revere. Brigadier Generals Frost, 
Thompson and Cushing, of Maine, were there with 
their militia, ready to embark on the patriotic enter- 
prise. ■ The fleet consisted of the flag ship Warren, 
which was a flue, new Continental frigate of thirty- 
two guns, together with nine ships, six brigs and three 
sloops, — the whole carrying three hundred and forty- 



202 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^79 

four guns. General Lovell, of Massachusetts, was 
commander of the land forces, and his associate was 
Adjutant General Peleg Wadsworth, afterward a resi- 
dent of Maine. 

The British commander at Castine . had heard of 
the expedition several days before its arrival, and had 
done his utmost to prepare for the attack. As soon 
as it appeared in sight he concluded that defense was 
impossible, except he was reinforced; and he sent at 
once to Hahfax for aid. 

6. Early in the morning of July 28th the vessels ■ 
were drawn up in a line before the British position on 
the peninsula, and four hundred men were sent ashore 
under cover of the fog to commence the attack. The 
neck had been separated from the mainland by a 
broad, deep trench, and the sides were so well defended 
that the troops could only be landed on the northwest, 
where the shore, at one point, rose precipitously nearly 
one hundred feet. As they left the boats the cannon 
balls from the British ships began to whistle over 
their heads, and a Hue of soldiers posted along the 
heights threw down a brisk fire of musketry into their 
faces. They immediately divided into three parties, — 
the center remaining to engage the enemy, while the 
other parties chmbed the bank at right and left. On 
reaching the top tliey suddenly closed in upon the 
British line, which hastily retreated, leaving thirty of 
their number killed, wounded and prisoners. It was 
a short but sharp encounter, lasting only twenty min- 
utes; but in that time we lost one hundred men. 
There was scarcely a more brilUant engagement during 
the war ; and if the action had been followed up by 
the fleet the place luust in a short time have surren- 
dered. A council was now lield, in which it was 
proposed that a surrender should be demanded; but 
Saltonstall opposed, and it was not done. 

7. But General Lovell still pressed his advantage 
on shore, reducing the enemy's outworks and captur- 



1779 EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION. 203 

ing several field pieces. His troops worked all tlirougli 
the nio-lits constructing: their ziarzacf entrenchments, — 
which were at length adv^anced within musket shot of 
the fort, so that in the daytime a soldier seldom dared 
to put his head above the walls. Meanwhile all that 
the ships did' v/ith their three hundred and forty 
guns was to cannonade the enemy at intervals from 
some safe place beyond the reach of his cannon. 

A fortnight had now passed since the siege com- 
menced, and Generals Lovell and Wadsworth were 
preparing to take the place by assault, — when, just 
before they were ready, a British fleet appeared in the 
bay. Yalor had done all it could, and now prudence 
dictated a retreat. Durins: the followino; nis-ht the 
Americans embarked in safety, while Saltonstall made 
preparations to check the approach of the enemy, 
arraying his fleet in the form of a crescent. The 
British fleet consisted of a large man-of-war, a frigate, 
two ships, two brigs and a sloop, under the command 
of Sir George Colher. It came steadily on, and, get- 
ting within range, poured a broadside upon Salton- 
stall's vessels. 

8. Immediate confusion followed. Most of the 
masters of the vessels were also their owners; and, 
interest prevailing over patriotism, they fled without 
waiting for a second broadside, and some of them 
without firing a gun. Some of the transports ran 
ashore near Orphan Island, and were set on fire and 
abandoned, while others escaped up the Penobscot. 
Few inhabitants then dwelt along the river, and the 
scattered troops were forced to take their tedious way 
through the wilderness to the settlements of the Ken- 
nebec, suffering greatly on the journey for lack of 
provisions; and some who were infirm actually per- 
ished in the woods. 

A court of inquiry was held at Boston soon after 
upon the "Penobscot Expedition" ; and the General 
Court adjudged that "Commodore Saltonstall be 



204 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1780 

incompetent ever after to hold a commission in the 
serdce of the State, and that Generals Lovell and 
Wadsworth be honorably acquitted." 

9. In August, 1780, two armed vessels of the 
enemy came up the Kennebec to destroy the shipping, 
and do whatever other damage they could. On their 
way they anchored near Bluff Head. During the 
night they v/ere alarmed by the whistling and crashing 
of shot over their decks, — the missiles coming from 
two field pieces on the hill. Though imperfect aim 
could be taken by the gunners in the darkness, sev-* 
eral of the British were killed, and the vessels con- 
siderably damaged. As soon as it was h'ght the 
vessels slipped their cables and went to sea, followed 
by several boatloads of men from up the river, anxious 
for battle. Tliis was the enemy's last attempt on the 
Kennebec. 

In the autumn of 1779 Congress had prohibited all 
exportation from Maine, even to other States; and no 
timber, live stock, wool, flax — or goods made of them, 
no skins, leather, shoes, no kind of food, cloth- 
ing, nor material for ships, could be carried from the 
province on penalty of forfeiture. Some sales could 
be made to the government, for which payment was 
made in the depreciated currency; yet the people of 
Maine lacked greatly for necessary articles of food and 
clothing not produced within its limits. The pur- 
pose of this embargo was to prevent stores from fall- 
ing into the hands of the British, and to secure sup- 
phes for our own needy forces. 

10. The fleet which had driven ours from Castine 
brought fifteen hundred fresh troops, and the British 
had now full sway along our entire eastern coast ; and 
many were the outrages committed upon the defence- 
less inhabitants. They carried off cattle, burned mills 
and dwellings, and personally abused the people; so 
that numerous residents in that region abandoned their 
homes and sought safety in the western counties. 



1780 EVENTS OF THE REYOLUTIOX. 205 

The Continental army had drawn so many men from 
Maine that two or three companies at Machias, a vol- 
unteer company in Lincoln, and another in York, were 
all that remained in service. These were quite insuffi- 
cient for the defence of any point, and served only to 
keep the tories in awe. 

The next year Maine's quota for the national 
army was remitted, and six hundred men were taken 
from the militia for eight months' service at home in 
the pay of the general government. Three hundred 
of these were stationed at Falmouth, two hundred at 
Camden, and one hundred at Machias; while Fal- 
mouth also received, in addition to those she had 
before, two cannon carrying an eighteen pound ball, 
and five carrying one of four pounds. Though these 
provisions were insufficient, yet with them the military 
authorities succeeded in holding the enemy in check, 
so that the British gained no further advantage in 
Maine. 

11. General TVadsworth, a prudent and able man, 
had been placed in command of the district of Maine, 
and made his head quarters at Thomaston. When 
their eight months of service was out, the six hundred 
men who had been detached from the mihtia, retired 
from active mihtary duty. This left the general with 
a very small force; but he continued to reside at 
Thomaston with his family, guarded by only six sol- 
diers. In the middle of a cold February night he 
was awakened from liis sleep by the loud and rapid 
reports of guns and the crashing of glass in the win- 
dows of his room. Tlie British commander at Castine 
had learned of his undefended situation, and sent a 
lieutenant Vvdth twenty-live soldiers to take him. 

On their approach the sentry hailed, "Wlio's there?" 
and retreated into the house. Instantly a volley Avas 
poured after him, Avhile others fired into the windows. 
They quickly had possession of the house, excepting 
one room, which was occupied by the general alone. 



206 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1"81 

Here, with a brace of pistols, fusee and blunderbuss, 
lie contended, single handed, against his besiegers, 
driving them away from the windows and door. Then 
an attack was made at another door, which thej broke 
in. This time his blunderbuss missed lire; yet with 
a bayonet he still kept them back. All this time he 
was in his night clothes ; which, as soon as the door 
was opened, rendered him a distinct mark for a shot, — 
and a bullet soon pierced liis arm. Longer resistance 
was useless ; and he surrendered liimself a prisoner. 
Presently the lieutenant entered with a candle; and 
looking at General AVadsworth, said : ^'Su*, you have 
defended yourself bravely — done too much for one 
man. But we must be in haste. We will help you 
on with your clothes." In a few minutes lie was on 
the march with the company toward Castine; and 
his family was left without further harm. 

12. In April, Major Burton, one of his officers, was 
captured and confined with liim; and they decided to 
make an attempt to escape. With a gimlet obtained 
of their barber, they bored holes in the pine ceihng of 
their room, filhng the holes with paste made of bread. 
In three weeks one of the boards was severed, and 
ready to be taken out. At length there came a night 
favorable to the attempt, when the j-ain and frequent 
loud thunder drowned all minor sounds. The board 
was removed, and Major Burton went out first, while 
the general, whose arm was still somewhat lame, found 
much difficulty in hfting himself through the hole. 
He finally succeeded, got into the entry, and passed 
out of the door, — then felt his way along the outside 
of the building directly under the falling water from 
the eaves. He reached the embankment and climbed 
the pickets just in time to escape the guard. Then by 
means of blankets he let himself down into the ditch, 
from whence he crept softly out, and found himself in 
the open field, wet to the skin, but undiscovered and 
free. 



1781 EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION. 207 

13. Still he had not found the major, whom he 
supposed was ahead of him; and he made his way 
northward to a road which had been cut by his direc- 
tion during the siege of this place two years before. 
At sunrise he was seven or eight miles from the fort, 
on the eastern side of the Penobscot; and here he had 
the pleasure of meeting with Major Burton again, who 
had all the time been in the rear. They found a boat, 
and crossed over to the western bank of the river, 
barely escaping discovery by a barge which came out 
in pursuit. Three days after they reached the settle- 
ments on St. George's River, and were safe. 

Since the British had gained a stronghold in Maine 
the tories of the western counties and even from Mas- 
sachusetts flocked to their vicinity; and the outrages 
committed by them upon the patriots of that region 
were scarcely less atrocious than those of the Indians 
formerly. Yet Maine, overrun and afflicted as she 
was, had again to furnish recruits for the national 
army, — this time five hundred men. Lincoln county, 
also, raised one hundred and sixty men, and York 
county one hundred and twenty for their own defence ; 
while the general government, finding it absolutely 
necessary, oftered bounties to privateers, and sent four 
small vessels and a fiotilla of whale boats to cruise 
along the coast. 

14. In the autumn the light dawned of a l^righter day. 
This was the surrender of the army under Lord Corn- 
wallis at Yorktown, — which happened the last of 
October, 1781. Congress went m solemn procession 
to church, and returned thanks to Almighty God for 
crowning our arms with success ; and a day was soon 
after appointed for the thanksgiving of the nation. 

The British had so far succeeded in rousing the 
Canada Indians that in 1781 a party of them killed 
two men in the town of Gilead; and in 1782 a larger 
band, roaming through the region, fell upon the infant 
settlement in Newry, set the buildings on fire, and 



208 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^83 

destroyed all property which they could not carry off. 
The men of this settlement had gone for a short time 
to Sudbury-Canada, (now Bethel) where they were 
followed by the savages, and several of them killed, 
and others carried away. Among the Indians who 
had been induced to join the British were two sons of 
Netallie, a chief who dwelt on an island in Lake 
Umbagog. Their father was so incensed by their 
treachery that he drove them from him, and disin- 
herited them forever. 

15. At last, on the third day of September, 1783, 
the treaty of peace was signed at Paris between the 
agents of the American and British governments. 
By this act the boundary between Maine and the 
British Possessions was fixed; being ''formed by a 
line drawn due north from the source of the St. Croix 
River to the highlands, along said highlands, which 
divide those waters which empty themselves into the 
river St. Lawrence, from those that fall into the Atlan- 
tic ocean, to tlie north-eastern-most head of the Con- 
necticut river," — and "east by a line to be drawn 
along the middle of the river St. Croix, from its mouth 
in the Bay of Fundy to its source," — and "all the 
islands within twenty leagues of the shore, and the 
right unmolested to fish on the Grand Banks, and on 
all other banks of ]N'e^vfoundland, and generally in 
every place where the inhabitants of both countries 
have heretofore used to fish." I have recorded 
these boundaries and rights literally, because many 
years later they were partly the occasion of another 
Yv^ar. 

16. Then the British forces were withdrawn from 
our borders, the noble armies of the Revolution were 
disbanded, and we were acknowledged by the govern- 
ments of Europe to be an independent country, and 
w^ere thus admitted into the fraternity of nations. In 
tliis war Maine had lost a thousand men ; and the pro- 
portion of the public debt which fell upon our scanty 



1790 AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 209 

settlements was larger in proportion to population and 
property than the debt from the slaveholder's rebellion. 
Now once more our people were left free to pursue 
the noble avocations of peace, and the District of 
Maine rapidly increased in wealth, population and 
power. 

What was the relative value of government bills and specie in 
1778 ? What citizen of Maine conveyed the American minister to 
France ? At what date was Maine made a district under the gen- 
eral government ? Of what place in Maine did the British take 
possession in 1779 ? Give an account of the siege of this place by 
the Americans. What distressing prohibition did Congress make 
in 1779? Yvliy was the quota of Maine to the national army re- 
mitted in 1780? Give an account of what happened to Gen. 
Wadsworth. What joyous event occurred in 1781 ? What was 
done by the Canada Indians in 1781-82 ? Give the boundaries of 
Maine as settled by the treatj^ of Independence. 



CHAPTEK XXYI. 

1. We have now come down to the close of the 
Kevolution — a ]:)eriod when our great grandfathers 
and great grandmothers were the chief personages 
upon the stage of action; and as they were so nearly 
related to us I suppose you would like to know how 
they looked and what their customs were. You have 
already learned of their struggles for life and liberty ; 
and I thiidv you will agree with me that they never 
could have gone through with it all so successfully 
had they not, like their own fathers and mothers, been 
possessed of great strength, both of body and mind. 



210 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1790 

Yet among tlie wealthier people the period immedi- 
ately before and after the war was one of "grand" 
manners and showy dress. 

2. Their dwelhngs were large, bnt not so elegant 
and convenient as om's; while carriages for riding 
w^ere scarcely kno^\^l in Maine before 1T90; but peo- 
ple made up for these deficiencies by personal apparel. 
The belles had their silks, their laces, their fine linen, 
high-heeled shoes, hooped petticoats, and long waists. 
They powdered tlieir hair — which was usually dressed 
high on the head, and fastened and ornamented with 
great combs of gold, silver and shell, with the frequent 
addition of gold and silver skewers and bands. Some- 
times they appeared in public in gowns of fancy wool 
cloth, but often in silks and satins. Calico was little 
used, not being rich enough for society, and too costly 
for common wear — at six shillings a yard. 

The gentlemen of fashion in the early part of the 
centmy generally wore great wigs, — some bushy, 
others flowing in long curls to the shoulders. After- 
ward the hair was gathered in a cue or club at the 
back of the neck, and tied with a ribbon; but about 
the time of the Revolution monstrous head di'esses 
were discarded by both ladies and gentlemen, and 
more modest fasliions prevailed. 

3. The fashionable outside garment was for a long 
time a scarlet cloak, or one lined with scarlet; but 
this color went out of style. I suspect that the red 
coats of the British soldiers made it unpopular. The 
coats were cut straight in front, having a stiif, upright 
collar; w^hich, with the pockets and sleeves, were 
trimmed with gold or silver lace. The shirt had 
ruffles at the bosom and wrists, and the wristbands 
extended beyond the coat sleeves, so as to show the 
ornamental buttons which fastened them. The waist- 
coat was without a collar, but descended over the hips, 
and had rounded corners in front. They were often 
made of silk, had great pocket flaps, and much em- 



1790 AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 211 

broidery. Breeches fitting quite tight reached down 
to the knee, where they met the stockings and fastened 
with a buckle. The shoes also were fastened with 
buckles. In 1790 trowsers descending to the ankle 
began to be worn, the fashion having been brought in 
by the French. In the street the head was covered 
with a napless beaver hat, with a brim generally about 
two feet in diameter, which w^as drawn up on three sides 
so as to form three angles, and was worn with a point 
over each shoulder, — while the other, coming in front, 
served for a handle to take it off by when making a 
bow. 

4. But those worthy and respectable men who did 
the work necessary to the sustenance and comfort of 
life — earning their bread by the sweat of their brows — 
found themselves most comfortable in their customary 
loose trowsers of tow cloth in the summer, and woolen 
cloth, deer or moosehide in the colder weather. Their 
coats were of similar material ; while for shirts, linen 
was the staple article. Wool was rare for a long time, 
because the bears and w^olves killed the sheep; but 
the flax plant grew freely, so that linen was plentiful. 
At the time of the He volution the country women 
generally had learned to weave on the great hand 
looms; so they wove up the coarse tow and the finer 
flax into thick cloths for the w^ear of men and boys, 
and into sheets and towels for family use, while they 
produced a finer cloth woven in colored checks for 
their own and their daughter's wear on Sundays and 
social occasions. In some parts of the country, "spin- 
ning bees" and "wool breakings" were held for 
spinning and carding. When the work was done the 
men, l)Oth young and old, came in; and the afiair 
usually closed with simple dances and merry plays. 

5. Merrymakings were more numerous than for- 
merly, for settlements increased, and there was no 
lurking foe to be feared. From a few handfuls of 
adventurous colonists we had become a numerous and 

10 



212 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1790 

independent people, able to cope successfully with the 
nations of Europe. Every Indian tribe was destroyed 
or driven off, except the friendly Tarratines. These 
were secured by government in possession of several 
large islands in the Penobscot above Bangor, with the 
right of hunting on all the tributaries of the river 
above this point. Being now permanently at peace 
they cultivated the ground more than formerly; and 
the furs from their winter hunting brought them many 
of the comforts of civilization. Tlieir manners were 
still much the same as ever; but their hunting and 
household implements were such as the white people 
used, while their dress had undergone a thorough 
change. 

6. They usually wore a woolen cap or bonnet of 
a conic form, which might be drawn down to cover 
the ears and the back of the neck. For coats they 
had a sort of sack or blouse almost as formless as a 
meal bag, without buttons, being fastened at the waist 
by a belt. The women wore short sacks, meeting 
the skirt at the waist, and pinned together in front. 
Their long stockings of blue woolen overlaid the 
drawers and covered the knee. Tliougli a supply of 
shoes was kept at the trading houses, they mostly 
wore moccasins — doubtless because they were both 
easier and cheaper. Add to these, briglit scarfs, rib- 
bons and plumes, and metallic ornaments of all sorts, ^ 
and you liave a true picture of the Penobscot In- 
dians as they app^^ared at the beginning of the present 
century. To-day they have discarded this dress, also; 
and for the most part appear in the garb of their 
white neighbors. 

7. As soon as peace was concluded with Great 
Britain, the eyes of many thousands were turned upon 
Maine ; and presently many thousand feet were march- 
ing toward her forests, with their property following 
in ox cart or boat, or, perhaps, carried on their backs. 
Many were soldiers of the Revolution, fresh from the 



1790 AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 213 

disbanded armies ; and often tlieir only wealtli was a 
soldier's note or a few worn and nearly wortliless 
bills, — the balance of tlieir pay for long and arduons 
service in tlieir country's cause. But they were rich 
in patriotism and courage, while their industrious 
habit was shown by the speedy clearing of farms and 
the rearing of many a comfortable home. It soon 
began to be seen how small was the reward these 
noble men had received in comparison with their ser- 
vices; and the General Court, a few years after the 
close of the war, offered as a gratuity to every one 
who had served three years, his choice between twenty 
dollars in money, and two hundred acres of land on 
our eastern frontier. 

8. The government still owned nearly two-thirds 
of the territory, and a great number of towns were 
laid out, and many grants made to deserving indivi- 
duals; while land was sold to soldiers for one dollar 
an acre. Yet there were many trespassers, who both 
occupied land they had not bouglit, and cut down 
trees not their own; and government was forced to 
appoint a committee to protect the public property. 
The white pine was the favorite spoil of the lawless 
lumbermen ; and the fine for cutting one of them on 
government land was one hundred dollars. Perhaps 
you think this a heavy penalty for a single tree ; but 
it is much less than some of them would be worth for 
lumber to-day. Sometimes these pines were of such 
size that when cut down a yoke of full grown oxen 
could be turned about on the stump. They were 
often found measuring four feet in diameter, and have 
been known to reach six feet at the butt, and two 
hundred and forty feet in height. Their green tops, 
towering, like lofty sentinels, far above the surround- 
ing forest, raised in the mind of tlie beholder a feeling 
of grandeur — that was greatly increased when he stood 
beside the mighty trunk and, gazing upward, saw its 
long line shoot above the shadows of the great woods 



214 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1"90 

into the unbroken liglit of heaven. On the opening 
of the war for independence one of the first flags 
designed for our national standard bore the figure of 
a pine. Afterward, its neiglibors of the niglit — the 
bright, twinlding stars — took its place; but it has its 
rightful position on our State seal, and we find a noble 
significance in our popular name of "Pine-tree State." 
The District of Maine grew so rapidly in population 
and wealth that its separation from Massachusetts and 
erection into an independent State began to be agi- 
tated. The first newspaper published in the District 
was started for the purpose of advocating this project. 
It was printed in Falmouth, and was called "The 
Falmouth Gazette." The first number was issued on 
New Year's day, 1785. The next year Casco Neck 
was made a city, and its name changed from "Fal- 
mouth" to "Portland." 

9. So far only twelve towns had been laid out east 
of the Penobscot ; and to promote other settlements 
in this fine region, and to raise money for her treasury, 
Massachusetts, in 1786, contrived a land lottery. This 
scheme included fifty townships, each six miles square, 
lying between the Penobscot and St. Croix rivers. 
Against these, 2,720 tickets were issued at sixty 
pounds each; and every ticket entitled the holder to 
a prize — the lowest being a tract of land lialf a mile 
square. In payment for these tickets government 
received the notes with which the soldiers had been 
paid, and all other public securities; and the lottery 
townships, with those who settled on them, were 
exempted from taxation for fifteen years. At the time 
of the drawing, a large part of the tickets remained 
unsold, and these were bought by William Bingham 
of Philadelphia. Afterward he also purchased most 
of the prize lots from those who had drawn them; so 
the scheme did not promote settlements so rapidly as 
had been expected. Not long before, Mr. Bingham 
had purchased about one million acres in the counties 



1790 AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 215 

of Oxford and Somerset, so that lie had now become 
the owner of above two million acres in Maine, — eqnal 
to nearly one hnndred townships of six miles square, 
at a cost to him of twelve and one-half cents per acre. 
Mr. Binofham afterward removed to England, where 
he died; but his heirs, np to a late period, owned 
large tracts in eastern Maine. 

In 1790 a census of the inhabitants of Maine was 
taken by Federal authority, and, to the surprise of 
everybody, the population v/as found to reach the 
number of 96,5-10. The lottery townships, too, had 
gained so many inhabitants that they w^ere this year 
separated from Lincoln county and erected into the 
two counties of Hancock and Washington. 

10. Among the pioneers of Lincoln county none 
were worthier than the German colonists of Broad 
Bay; and their virtuous example has never ceased to 
be a source of strength to oiu* good State. The 
Scotch and Scotch-Irish, also, had settled at several 
]3oints — some on the Kennebec at Bath, others in 
Kennebec county on the east of the river, and others 
still in Old York. No doubt many of my readers 
know of localities which bear to this day the name of 
^'Scotland," "Ireland," "Scotland Parish"; thus tell- 
ing the nationahty of their original settlers. In these 
the names peculiar to those people are still found nu- 
m.erous; and, nearly always, they mark a moral, indus- 
trious and thrifty community. 

11. In 1790 the general government divided 
Maine into nine commercial districts, and appointed a 
collector and other custom-house officers for each. 
At the adoption of the Federal constitution, Maine, as 
a part of Massachusetts, became entitled to one repre- 
sentative in Congress; but in 1794 a new apportion- 
ment gave her three. 

In 1793 Governor John Hancock died. He was 
president of the convention which framed the Declara- 
tion of Independence; and my young friends will 



216 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^90 

recollect his name in clear, bold hand as the first 
signature to that noble instrument. He was the first 
governor of the old commonwealth — ^including the Dis- 
trict of Maine — after we became a nation, and was 
elected to that office twelve successive years, with the 
exception of two years only, when Governor James 
Bowdoin filled the chair. 

It was from the latter gentleman that Bowdoin 
College received its name. This college was chartered 
in 1794, but its first class was not entered until 1802. 
James Bowdoin, son of the governor, was its great 
benefactor, presenting it with both money and land, 
and also with books, paintings and minerals, gathered 
during his residence and travels in Europe. 

What were some of the fashions in dress at the Rcvohitionary 
period ? What had become of the Indians ? Wiiat can you say 
of the soldiers who at this time settled in Maine ? What won- 
derful natural product Avas found in Maine ? When and for what 
purpose was the first newspaper issued in Maine ? What was done 
in regard to lands between the Penobscot and St. Croix ? What 
people besides the English settled in Maine ? 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

1. The Muscongus Patent had fallen so much into 
the possession of the Waldo family that it had now for a 
long time been known as the "Waldo Patent" ; finally 
Henrv Knox, who married a o-randdauo-hter of Gen- 
eral Waldo, by inheritance and purchase obtained from 
it a large estate. General Knox had been the chief of 
artillery in the Continental army, and was the intimate 



180G 



THE MALTA WAR. 



friend of General Washington. "When the battle of 
Lexington took place Henry Knox was a bookseller in 
Boston. He was already known to the British authori- 
ties as an active rebel, and it became dangerous for 
him to remain longer in the city; therefore he and his 
accomplished young wife fled together, with his sword 
hidden in her petticoat. Mrs. Knox was the daughter 
of tlie secretary of tlie Commonv/ealth; and when she 
married this "bookseller" lier friends thought her social 
prospects were ruined. They made a great mistake ; 
all through the first presidency she was in the first rank 
of social position, and many of her old acquaintances 
felt it an honor to enjoy the friendship of Lucy Knox. 




GENERAL HENRY KNOX. 



2. Young Knox was present as a volunteer at the 
battle of Bunker Hill, and fought so gallantly that he 
was soon after made a Heutenant colonel of engineers. 
In the autumn he raised an artillery company ; and 
when, in November, 1776, the patriots besieged the 
British army in Boston, he brought mortars, howitzers, 



218 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^808 

cannon and ammunition all the way from Ticonderoga 
and Crown Point on ox-sleds. He was next made 
Brigadier General of artillery, and held that position 
until the surrender of Cornwalhs at Yorktown ; when, 
for meritorious service, he was made a Major General; 
and when the British marched out of New York it 
was he who took possession. General Knox was twice 
appointed Secretary of War ; but in 1794 he resigned 
that office and took up his residence in Thomaston on 
the ancestral estate of his wife. He built a fine house 
in a commanding position near the banks of St. George's 
River, where he maintained the hospitality suitable to 
his rank and wealth until his death in 1806. 

3. The Pemaquid Patent had been divided into the 
Drowne, Browne and Ta]3pan rights ; the Plymouth, 
or Kennebec Patent, had been sold to the "Fifty As- 
sociates," for whom Dr. Sylvester Gardiner was chief 
manager ; the Pejepscot Purchase had passed into the 
hands of Richard Wharton, and thence become distri- 
buted to many persons. On all of these were settlers 
who had cleared land and built houses, without either 
purchase or license. Tliey were called squatters ; and 
the proprietors of the lands were determined to drive 
them otf, unless they would pay a suitable price for 
their enclosures. There were many also whose farms 
had been bought and paid for by their fathers, or 
grandfathers ; and these, too, by the decision of the 
courts, had no rights in the land upon which they had 
been born. Some proprietors had sold land outside of 
their tracts, while settlers who had purchased of real 
proprietors, not knowing the exact boundaries, had 
located where they had not bought ; and the courts of 
Kennebec and Penobscot echoed for years with the 
names of these old grants and rival claimants. There- 
fore in 1808 a law was made called the "Betterment 
Act," for the relief of these persons. It provided for 
an appraisal of the land as it was in a state of nature, 
and also of its improvement by cultivation, with the 



1809 THE MALTA WAR. 219 

value of the fences and buildings ; the proprietor then 
had his choice — either to sell the land to the tenant 
at the price appraised, or pay him the price set upon 
his improvements ; otherwise he must lose the land. 

4. Many of the settlers whose rights were disputed 
formed companies to defend themselves in their lands 
and houses ; and whenever proprietors, or their survey- 
ors, came into these neighborhoods they were haunted 
by bands of armed men, and warned to depart. Many 
times it looked as if there would again be war in the 
District of Maine, — a war of ter^mts against proprie- 
tors; but in one instance only was life actually taken. 

In September, 1809, as four men were engaged in run- 
ning land in the town of Malta (now Windsor) they 
were assailed by nine men disguised as Indians. They 
wore peaked caps of parti-colored cloth, and had a 
covering over their faces pierced with holes for the 
mouth and eyes. Some wore blankets also. Two 
or three carried long staves with pieces of scythes fas- 
tened upon the end, but the others were armed with 
guns and pistols. At the word of their leader, three 
guns were fired at Paul Chadwick, one of the survey- 
ing party, who instantly fell, mortally wounded. The 
surveyor and one assistant immediately fled ; but the 
''Indians" made no attempt to pursue them. The dying 
man, was soon removed by his companions to a house 
in the vicinity. Some of the gang had been recog- 
nized by Chadwick ; and when the sheriff arrived they 
were found to have fled to the woods, where they re- 
mained concealed. At last by their friends' advice, 
they gave themselves up to the officers of the law, and 
were placed in the jail at Augusta to await their trial. 

5. As the time of court sessions approached, the 
friends of the prisoners began to fear for their fate, and 
to regret that they had advised them to surrender. 
Rumors of rescue began to reach the officers, and the 
prison was strongly guarded and a strict watch kept. 
An intense interest prevailed throughout the commu- 



220 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1809 

nity ; for tlie land proprietors were anxious to see 
whether their rights could be sustained, while the pris- 
oners had the sympathy of all settlers on doubtful 
claims. Next, it was announced that the woods be- 
tween Augusta and Malta were full of armed men 
dressed as Indians, who only waited a favorable moment 
to burn the county building and the houses of the land 
proprietors; and such was the known state of feeling 
among the squatters that the rumor was readily be- 
lieved. A cannon from the old fort was mounted on 
cartwheels, loaded ^vith musket balls and set at the 
west end of the bridge, ready to sweep down the 
rioters whenever they should attempt to cross the river. 
Sentinels were posted, the patrol was enlarged, and 
excited citizens kept anxious watch about their dwel- 
lings. Still the expected attack did not come. 

6. The court sat on the third of October. At mid- 
night the guard stationed east of the river perceived a 
body of armed men approaching from the hill. AVhen 
mthin about thirty rods of the bridge they halted, and 
sent one of their number forward. The spy came so 
near the post of the sentinels that he was caught 
almost before he was aware of their presence. Three 
of the guard were hastening away with him, when 
some twenty or thirty of the insurgents rushed for- 
ward, beat off the sentinels, and rescued their comrade. 
Major Weeks, who had just come to learn what was the 
matter, was made a prisoner and hurried away to the 
woods. In a few minutes the city was in wild commo- 
tion. Guns were fired, bells were rung, and the streets 
were thronged with excited people. The Augusta 
light infantry company reached the scene of conflict, 
but the foe had disappeared. Before daylight two other 
companies had been ordered out ; but the insurgents 
were not to be found. 

7. In the few days following, companies came in one 
after the other from Hallowell, Gardiner, Winthrop, 
Fayette, Eeadfield, Yassalboro and Sidney. Perhaps 



1809 THE MALTA WAR. 221 

my readers will think this was a great and unnecessary 
array to oppose to three or four score half armed squat- 
ters ; but you know that a*very few men can set a city 
on lire — and the authorities wished to protect prop- 
erty from the flames as well as prevent a rescue of 
the prisoners. However, only one or two companies 
were retained in the city, the others returning home 
for the time, but alternating w^ith each other until the 
trial was concluded. 

The indictment was for murder; but only seven 
of the nine men in the party who killed Chadwick 
were included, since his death resulted from gunshot 
wounds — and two of them had no guns. The trial 
commenced on the sixteenth of JSTovember, and con- 
sumed eight days in the examination of witnesses and 
in the argument of the counsel. The charge of Judge 
Parker to the jury presents so many thoughts import- 
ant to be remembered by all who live under a free 
government, that I insert a part of it for the benefit 
of boys who will soon be my fellow citizens. 

8. ''In this free and happy country, where every 
man's claims are to be decided by his neighbors and 
peers, men of like passions and like interests with him- 
self, and under laws of his own making, can there be 
any excuse for resorting to violence 'i Do not the 
most abject and miserable find countenance, support 
and encouragement in the maintenance of their rights, 
when they claim it under the laws ? Have not the 
legislature done everything within their constitutional 
power to aid those who are supposed to have stronger 
claims upon humanity than upon strict justice ? Why 
then do we hear of our citizens assuming the garb of 
savages, and perpetrating acts at which even savages 
would tremble ? To what will all this lead ? If men 
of similar interests may combine and, by menaces and 
violence, deprive their antagonists of the evidence 
essential to the just determination of their disputes — 
or if men may with impunity oppose the laws — such 



222 HISTOEY OF MAINE. 1809 

system must go to the destruction of every man's com- 
fort, security and happiness, as well as the constitution 
and laws under Avhich we Hve. There have also been 
menaces that the courts of justice will be stopped by 
violence; and it is notorious that assemblies of men 
have appeared for the avowed object of rescuing the 
prisoners before trial. There is reason likewise to 
apprehend, in case of a conviction of the prisoners, 
that there will be similar attempts to prevent the 
execution of the law. But have not the prisoners had 
a fair, patient and impartial trial ? It has occupied an 
unprecedented portion of time. Every indulgence to 
which they are lawfully entitled hr^.^ been cheerfully 
allowed them. They have had the best talents and 
the best efforts in their defense. If they are not 
proved to be guilty, though themselves may know that 
they are not innocent, they will still be acquitted, and 
allowed to return to their families and friends. If they 
are convicted the law must have its course. Will this 
government, abounding in loyal citizens, yield to the 
violence of a few deluded men, and tamely see its 
authority defied and its prisons violated without stretch- 
ing forth an arm to prevent its overthrow ? Should 
its powers be exerted, what must be the destiny of 
these wretched, mistaken men ? What, but either to 
be killed in battle, executed on the gallows, or to fly 
fi'om a land of freedom and security, to seek a misera- 
ble shelter in some foreign country. Their habitations 
will become desolate, and they will be fugitives on the 
face of the earth." 

9. The evidence had not shown by which of these 
seven men the three guns had been fired, so that it was 
still doubtful whose act had caused his death. The 
jury, therefore, gave to all the benefit of this doubt ; 
and, after deliberating two days, they brought in a 
verdict of "IS^ot Guilty." 

Yet the trial had a good efiect on the community, 
and on the prisoners themselves — even their leader 



1812 THE WAR OF 1812. 223 

professing with tears his penitence and shame; and 
both proprietors and tenants became more disposed to 
peaceable settlement. 

What noted men became owners in the Muscongus patent? 
What services were rendered in the revolution by Major General 
Knox ? What can you say in regard to other patents ? What law 
was made to enable the squatters and proprietors to make a settle- 
ment? What happened in 1809 in the town of Malta? When 
the murderers were about to be tried what occurred at Augusta ? 
Did this affair show that anything is to be gained by mob vio- 
lence ? 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

1. Hardly had the excitement from tlie Malta 
"Lidians" ceased, when fears of another war with 
Great Britain began to agitate our people. Napoleon 
Bonaparte was now in the full tide of his victories, 
and England had joined the alliance against him. 
The United States had early issued a proclamation of 
neutrality; but both England and France committed 
many outrages upon our unprotected merchantmen. 
Then the English claimed the right to search our ves- 
sels for seamen, and many were impressed into their 
service on the claim that they were British subjects. 
Our government often protested against these out- 
rages, but it did no good ; for they knew our navy to 
be very small, and supposed that our vessels were no 
match for theirs. At length they became so bold and 
overbearing as to search our armed vessels; and such 
as refused to allow it were fired upon. The British 



224 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1812 

sloop of war, Little Belt, for some oifense of this na- 
ture, fired upon the American ship. President; and 
the President fired back, giving the Little Belt such 
a drubbing that she sailed off as fast as she could to 
Hahfax and complained of the outrage ! 

2. Over six thousand of our seamen had been 
imj^ressed and were held to service in the British navy. 
In all British ports and on the seas our ships were 
detained bj search and seizure, and were not free 
from molestation even in our own harbors ; therefore 
in April, 1812, an embargo was laid for ninety days 
on all vessels in our ports. A treaty had been made 
with France^ — that country being now at war with 
England — hj which the edicts of Bonaparte were 
modified in favor of American shipping ; but England 
gave no attention to our protests, and still persisted in 
her outrageous proceedings; therefore, in June, war 
was declared to exist between Great Britain and the 
United States. 

The population of Maine was now over two hun- 
dred and twenty-eight thousand, wliile her exports 
were above eight hundred thousand dollars in yearly 
value, and she had shipping afloat amounting to one 
hundred and fifty thousand tons. With such an 
amount of exports and shipping, of course the em- 
bargo told very severely on our interests; and there 
were many wdio opposed the war, believing it to have 
been declared more to aid the French than because 
it was a necessity for the country. 

3. General Henry Dearbon, formerly of Pittston, 
in this State, was made commander in chief of the 
national forces, which were now stationed along the 
northern frontier from Lake Champlain to Lake Michi- 
gan. In August, General Hull cowardly surrendered 
Detroit, while other divisions of the army did nothing 
this year to redeem its honor; but on the sea our little 
navy achieved several brilliant victories. Yet neither 
the army nor the navy had been idle since the Eevo- 



1813 THE WAR OF 1812. 225 

lution ; the army having fought successfully with the 
Indians from Florida to the great lakes, while our 
navy had reduced the Barbary States to terms. In 
the latter service Commodore Preble, a native of Port- 
land, bore an honorable part. The first noted achieve- 
ment of this officer was during the occupancy of 
Castine by the British in the Revolution. Being then 
first lieutenant of the sloop of war, Winthrop, he 
with a few men boarded a British vessel in the harbor 
of Castine and brought her off under an incessant fire 
from the battery and troops. In 1803 he was placed 
in command of the famous frigate, Constitution, and 
sent with a squadron of seven vessels to obtain the 
release of Americans held in slavery by the Barbary 
States, and to protect our commerce against their 
piratical navies. He had brought Morocco to terms 
and was proceeding against other States when he was 
relieved by Commodore Barron, his senior, and re- 
turned home on account of ill health. Congress 
recognized the value of liis services on the African 
coast, and voted him the- thanks of the nation, and 
ordered him an elegant medal commemorative of the 
actions in which he had won distinction. He died in 
1807 at the early age of forty-five, and was bm*ied 
wdtli military honors in his native city. 

4. During the summer of 1813 the brig Enterprise 
was stationed on the eastern coast, where slie was the 
terror of the British privateers fitted out in the pro- 
vinces to prey upon our commerce. She carried six- 
teen guns and one hundred and two men, and Avas 
at this time under the command of Captain William 
Burrows. On the 4th of September the Enterprise 
sailed from Portland in search of British cruisers, which 
had been reported near Monhegan. On the 5th she 
discovered in a harbor near Pemaquid, a large vessel 
just getting underway. She proved to be the Boxer, 
a British brig of eighteen guns, carrying one hundred 
and four men, and commanded by Captain Samuel 



226 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^513 

Blytli. She had been sent out especially to capture or 
destroy the Enterprise. On observing the American 
the Boxer displayed four ensigns, and fired several 
guns to call her boats from the shore; then, spreading 
her sails, she bore gallantly down toward the vessel. 

5. Captain Burrows cleared his ship for action, but 
ran a few miles southward to secure ample sea-room 
for the impending conflict; then he shortened sail and 
turned upon his foe. They met off Seguin Island, at 
the mouth of the Kennebec. At twenty minutes past 
three the vessels were within half a pistol shot of each 
other, when they opened fire at almost the same mo- 
ment. In the course of the action the Enterprise 
ran across the bows of the Boxer, whence she deliv- 
ered such a destructive fire that at four o'clock the 
officer in command shouted a surrender through his 
trumpet; for the flag had been nailed to the mast. 
Captain Blyth was dead, being cut nearly in two by an 
18 pound ball ; forty-six of his men were killed, and 
twelve more wounded. Captain Burrows was mor 
tally wounded early in the battle, while assisting to 
run out a carronade; but he refused to be carried 
below until the sword of the British commander was 
placed in his hand. [N'one on board the Enterprise 
was killed, and of the fourteen wounded, only Cap- 
tain Burrows and Midshipman Waters died of their 
wounds. Lieutenant M'Call succeeded to the com- 
mand of the Enterprise; and the next morning he took 
both vessels into Portland Harbor. 

Captain Burrows died eight hours after the fight; 
and the two brave command.ers, foes no longer, were 
buried side by side in the old cemetery beside the 
sea. Longfellow, in the poem called "My Lost 
Youth," wrote of this scene, — 

* ' I remember the sea-fight far away, 
How it thundered o'er the tide ; 
And the dead captains as they lay 
In their graves o'erlooking the tranquil bay, 
Where they in battle died." 



18U THE WAR OF 1812. 227 

6. A few days later the brilliant victory of Com- 
modore Perry over the British fleet on Lake Erie, 
filled the whole comitry with rejoicing. The next 
year our naval successes continued, while the victories 
of Chippewa and Bridge water, in Canada, covered 
our armies with glory. But in August the British 
entered Chesapeake Bay in great force ; and, penetrat- 
ing to Washington, they burned the capitol, the presi- 
dent's house, and the public offices. 

The enemy's cruisers were now so numerous on our 
coast that no vessel thought of making a foreign voy- 
age, and nothing was done on the water except a little 
coasting and fishing. As a result, all important arti- 
cles became very high. Yet there was an advantage 
in this ; for it stimulated native production so much 
that this year some thirty companies were incorporated 
in Massachusetts and Maine for the manufactm-e of 
cotton, woolen, glass and metal. 

7. On the eleventh of July, 1814, was made the 
first attack of the war on the soil of Maine. On that 
day a British fleet swept over the waters of Fassama- 
quoddy Bay and came to anchor off Fort Sulhvan, 
at Eastport. This fortification was the sole defense of 
the place. It mounted but six guns, and was manned 
by two companies of soldiers under the command of 
Major Ferley Futnam. The armament of the enemy 
was under the command of Sir Thomas Hardy. It 
consisted of his flag-sliip,Kamilies of seventy-four guns, 
the sloop Martin, the brig j&oxer, the schooner Bream, 
the bomb-ship Terror, and several transports with 
troops under Colonel Thomas Filkington. A message 
w^as speedily sent to the fort demanding its instant sur- 
render, and allowing but five minutes for consideration. 
To the brave Futnam this time w^as more than suffi- 
cient ; and the messenger bore back the reply, — "The 
fort will be defended against any force whatever." 

8. The armed ships were now put in a position for 
attack, while at a httle distance below the village the 



228 HISTOEY OF MAmE. l^l^ 

transports landed upwards of one thousand men, with 
fifty or sixty pieces of artillery. The inhabitants were 
intensely alarmed for their property and famihes ; and 
they besought Major Putnam that he would not expose 
the town to destruction by a hopeless defense. In 
deference to their wishes Putnam surrendered the fort, 
with the condition that his officers should be released 
on parole, and that the property and persons of the 
inhabitants should be secure. 

On taking possession of the place the British found 
in the custom-house nine thousand dollars in United 
States treasury notes, which, only lacked the signature 
of the collector to become valid. Promises, threats 
and menaces were all brouo;ht to bear on that officer 
to induce him to sign the notes — and thus rob his 
government of so many thousands for the benefit of 
the British ; but the noble man persevered in his refu- 
sal to perform the traitorous act, declaring that 
"Death itself would be no compulsion." 

9. A proclamation was issued announcing that 
the only intention of the British government in the 
present expedition was to take possession of the islands 
of Passamaquoddy Bay, winch belonged to it by the 
treaty of 1783 ; and that the inhabitants of the main- 
land would not be harmed, unless their conduct should 
provoke severities. Having established a custom- 
house of their ovm, the British now issued another 
proclamation, commanding the citizens to appear and 
take the oath of allegiance to his Britanic Majesty, or 
depart from the islands within seven days. About 
two-thirds of the inhabitants submitted; and the com- 
mander announced that the crown now had its due. 
New batteries were erected, and between forty and 
fifty cannon mounted, and the place was garrisoned 
with about eight hundred troops; then the squadron 
departed southward, spreading alarm along all the 
coast. A strong party of British soon after marched 
against Robbinston, a few miles up the bay on the 



1814 THE WAR OF 1812. 229 

mainland. This place was garrisoned by only twenty- 
five men, under Lieutenant Manning; who, knowing 
his inability to withstand a siege, destroyed such prop- 
erty as could not be removed, and retired to Machias. 
10. A part of the vessels which had acted against 
Eastport continued to cruise off our coast; and one of 
them, the Bream, a schooner carrying eight guns, 
greatly harassed Bristol and the neighboring towns. 
At last the citizens met to consider what could be 
done to rid themselves of this troublesome craft; and 
Commodore Tucker was sent for to take lead in the 
business. The old hero was living upon his farm a 
few miles oif, and at once answered the request of his 
townsmen by his presence. A wood schooner was 
procured and armed with an old swivel ; and forty-five 
volunteers were quickly on board, armed with mus- 
kets, bayonets, and scythe points bound on poles for 
boarding pikes. After cruising along the coast for 
several days, they discovered an armed vessel in, or 
near, Muscongus Bay. As the vessels approached 
each other the strano;er was found to be the schooner 
Crown, a British privateer of six guns. Tucker kept 
most of his men below, so that the enemy should not 
detect his purpose and fire too soon; but when a shot 
came tearing through the sails the men sprang upon 
deck. The commander formed them into platoons, 
directing them, when the order was given, to fire and 
kneel, while another row in the rear fired over their 
heads. The enemy's guns all this time kept banging 
away, the sails of the sloop were riddled beyond re- 
pair, — and not a gun on board of her had yet been 
fired. But tiie commodore had now got his favorite 
position, and in a voice of thunder uttered the word, 
"Fire !" Yolley after volley followed from the suc- 
cessive platoons; the crew of the privateer rushed 
below, and every gun was silenced. The captain alone 
remained on deck, lying beside the rudder to steer. 
One of T acker's men caught sight of his head through 
11 



230 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^X4 

a port hole, and sent a bullet so ^ close as to knock off 
his hat. The Americans now prepared to board ; and 
a stalwart Youn^ fellow six feet and six inches in 
height was stationed at the bows with a hedge anchor 
lifted over his back ready to throw on board the 
enemy for a grapple. The vessels neared each other. 
"Commodore, shall I heave ?" shouted the young 
giant with the anchor. The British captain waited 
no longer, but cried out for quarter. The prize was 
found to be full of provisions which had been sent to 
supply the Rattler, a seventy-four gun sliip cruising 
somewhere on the coast. The crew, consisting of 
twenty-five persons, were placed in the jail at Wiscas- 
set; while the provisions were distributed among the 
suffering families along the coast. 

What causes brought on the war of 1812 ? What citizen of 
Maine was made commander-in-chief of the national armies? 
What can you say of Commodore Preble ? Give an account of 
the battle of the EnteqDrise and Boxer. What other brilliant vic- 
tory happened soon after ? What effect did the destruction of our 
commerce have upon manufactures ? When and where was the 
first attack made on the soil of Maine ? What sea-fight occurred 
near Muscongus Bay ? 



1814 THE BKITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT. 231 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

1. The pleasant town of Castine on Penobscot Bay 
has had a varied experience for a place whose history- 
is not so old by many years as several others in New 
England. Six different attacks npon it by armed ene- 
mies have already been recorded in these pages ; while 
it has been held by five different nations. We must, 
of course, reckon the Indians as the first nation ; after 
whom it was held by the French, Dutch, English and 
Americans. I will now tell yon of its seventh and 
last experience of the miseries of war. 

In the year 1814 the village of Castine consisted of 
a few dozen dwellings and stores, a small church, a 
custom house, and, possibly, a court house — for it was 
then the shire town of Hancock county. Its only de- 
fense w^as a small fortification on the peninsula in such 
position as to command the channel of its harbor. 
This was an earth-work in the form of a half moon, 
armed w^ith four 24 pounders and two field-pieces, and 
garrisoned by about forty men, under Lieutenant Lewis. 

On September 1st, the garrison and inhabitants were 
alarmed by the appearance of a British fleet in the 
bay, bearing toward their harbor. About sunrise a 
small schooner ran up near the peninsula, and sent to 
the garrison a summons of surrender. Lewis saw that 
resistance would be useless ; so he gave the schooner 
a volley from his cannon, then spiked them, blew up 
the redoubt, and departed with his men up the river. 
So the British took possession of the place without 
further resistance, and with it gained the control of 
the Penobscot. 



232 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1814 

2. The armament was mider the chief command of 
Sir John Sherbrook, and consisted of the 74 gun ships 
Dragon, Spenser and Bulwark, the frigates Bacchante 
and Tenedos, the sloops Sylpli and Peruvian, the 
schooner Pictu, a large tender, and ten -transports. On 
board these were about four thousand troops, under 
the command of General Gerard Gosselin. 

On the afternoon of the same day, having landed the 
larger portion of the troops, General Gosselin with 
two vessels and six hundred men crossed the bay and 
took possession of Belfast ; while Captain Robert 
Barrie in the Dragon accompanied by the Sylph and 
Peruvian, with a small schooner as tender, and having 
on board about seven hundred troops, ascended the 
river to Marsh Bay, where they remained at anchor 
during the night. In the morning five or six hundred 
troops w^ere landed to take possession of Frankfort, 
whence they were to complete the journey on foot on 
account of unfavorable winds. The Dragon remained 
that night at her anchorage, but the smaller vessels 
proceeded on their way. 

3. Up the river, at Hampden, lay the United States, 
corvette John Adams, commanded by Captain Charles 
Morris. The Adams had within three months cap- 
tured of the enemy a ship, two brigs and a schooner, 
and was now undergoing repairs ; and of course the 
British were very desirous of destroying such a troub- 
lesome foe. News of the enemy's arrival flew speedily 
up the river ; and on the afternoon of the 1st, General 
Blake of Brewer, commander of the militia, had order- 
ed out his division, and at night was in Hampden to 
make preparations of defense. During the next day 
about five hundred militia had collected, who were soon 
joined by Lieutenant Lewis and his garrison from Cas- 
tine. General Blake with his ofiicers. Captain Morris, 
and the leading citizens of Hampden held a council 
of war ; but there were such differences of opinion that 
no plan of defense was adopted. Meantime the enemy 



1814 THE BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT. 233 

had continued on his course, and on the evening of the 
2d came to anchor at Bald Hill Cove, nearly two miles 
below Hampden, where a junction w^as formed with 
the force which had marched up the river. 

4. The milrtia continued under arms all night ; but 
it was nearly eight o'clock the next morning before the 
British came in view. General Blake had arranged 
his little army with the right wing near the meeting 
house, the line stretching off toward the hill near the 
river. An 18 pound carronade had been brought from 
the Adams, and with tw^o field pieces, placed in the 
highway near the meeting house — a position com- 
manding the approach from the south. Yet, o^ving to 
a diversity of counsel, no breastworks or other defense 
had been erected. The disabled Adams lay at Crosby's 
wharf at the mouth of Soadabscook Creek. Captain 
Morris had hoisted the cannon from her, and formed a 
battery of fourteen guns upon the wharf, and another 
of nine 18 pounders upon a hill fifty rods below, 
whence they would rake effectually any craft which 
might approach. 

5. The morning was very misty, but between seven 
and eight o'clock the skirmishers sent out by General 
Blake to watch and harass the enemy, reported him as 
crossing the stream that divides Hampden corners from 
Hampden. The main body w^as preceded by a com- 
pany of sharpshooters, while on the flanks were de- 
tachments of marines and sailors with a six-pound 
cannon, a 6 1-2 inch howitzer and a rocket apparatus. 
In front of the line of militia the fog was still so thick 
that the enemy could not be seen, but the field pieces 
blazed away with good effect ; and the enemy suddenly 
began to advance at ''double-quick," firing volleys in 
rapid succession. The militia discharged a few rounds 
in return ; but, several havmg fallen near the center, 
a panic siezed them, and they broke and fled in every 
direction, leaving the mortified oflicers alone on the 
field. 



234 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1814 

6. Meantime tlie enemy's vessels, preceded by barges 
full of soldiers moved np the stream to support the 
troops, until they were checked by the fire from Mor- 
rises batteries. The retreat of the militia left this 
position unsupported ; and capture could now be avoid- 
ed only by immediate retreat. Therefore, spiking his 
guns and setting his vessel on fire. Captain Morris and 
Iris men forded the stream, and took the road to Ban- 
gor; from thence, a few hours later, he departed 
through the wilderness to the Kennebec. 

AVithin an hour after the attack the town was in 
the hands of the enemy, and the soldiers engaged in 
pillage. A large numlDer of the citizens were placed 
in close confinement, and a bond with the penal sum 
of twelve thousand dollars was exacted from the town 
for the dehvery of certain unfinished vessels at Castine 
the next month. When the citizens remonstrated 
w^ith Captain Barrie, the commander of the expedition, 
he answered them, "My business is to sink, burn and 
destroy. Your town is taken by storm, and by the 
rules of war we ought both to lay your village in ashes 
and put its inhabitants to the sword. But 1 will spare 
your lives, tliough I mean to burn your houses." Prob- 
ably he would have burned them the next day, had 
not a messenger, who had been sent to General Slier- 
brook at Castine, returned with the order to spare if 
possible. 

7. After a brief delay tlie vessels and troops set 
out for Bangor. It was about noon wlien the vessels 
came to anchor at the mouth of the Kenduskeag, throw- 
ing a few rockets over the town as a signal to the troops, 
which had marched up the shore. Flags of truce were 
sent to meet the enemy, requesting the security to life 
and property which is customary when no resistance is 
made. This they agreed to give on condition of quar- 
ters and provision for the forces. Therefore the court- 
house, two school-houses, several dwellings and other 
buildings were placed at their disposal; cattle were but- 



1814 Tgj, BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT. 235 

cliered for tliem, pork and vegetables provided, bread 
was supplied from the bakery, and plenty of liquor 
furnished. A quantity of mer(;liandise in the custom- 
house, the money in the post office, and all the arms and 
ammunition they could lind, were seized ; while nearly 
all the citizens capable of bearing arms were forced to 
sign themselves prisoners of war. But these were 
released on parole, with the stipulation that they 
should not do military service against his Britannic 
Majesty until the war was over, unless exchanged. 

8. Yet in violation both of the rules of war and 
their own agreement, the soldiers and marines were 
permitted to pillage unrebuked. Twelve stores were 
emptied of most of their contents, and offices and dwell- 
ings forsaken by their owners were searched for valua- 
bles. Towards night the enemy threatened to burn 
several vessels which were on the stocks, and the op- 
pressed inhabitants were quite in despair ; for, as the 
wind then was, the flames would have swept the village. 
Therefore, to save their homes, the selectmen were 
forced to give a bond for thirty thousand dollars, or the 
delivery of the unfinished vessels at Castine by the end 
of October. That night was to tlie inhabitants a period 
of fearful suspense ; for they knew not what cruelty 
might next be attempted. However, the British with- 
drew on the following day w^ithout any worse acts than 
supplying themselves with horses, and taking off ves- 
sels and goods to the value of about twenty-three thou- 
sand dollars. Some of the vessels ran aground in going 
down the river, and were at night abandoned and set 
on fire — then- flames lighting up the shores for several 
miles. 

9. In passing Hampden the enemy again engaged 
in pillage ; but the imprisoned citizens were mostly set 
at liberty. Captain Morrises guns were thrown into 
the river, and the enemy departed; having secured 
two merchant vessels with valuable cargoes imd other 
property to the amount of forty-four thousand dollars. 



236 HISTORY OF MAINE. 181^ 

The people on the Kennebec were greatly alarmed 
by the ravages on the neighboring river, and prepared 
to give the British a warm reception, shonld their towns 
receive a visit. Major General King ordered out the 
militia ; and Wiscasset, which was appointed as the 
rendezvous, was soon full of soldiers. One zealous 
detachment even marched over to the Penobscot to 
harass the enemy's vessels as they returned. But the 
British discovered them, and bound at prominent points 
on the decks several citizens from the towns above, so 
that none dared fire for fear of wounding their coun- 
trymen ; and the ships passed by unharmed, while the 
militia-men marched angrily back to camp. 

10. Proclamations were now issued by the enemy 
proclaiming the country between Penobscot River 
and Passamaquoddy Bay to be a province of Great 
Britain, and promising protection to the citizens if they 
would take the oath of allegiance and be faithful sub- 
jects of tlie king. I am happy to know that very few 
of the inliabitants would make any such agreement. 
General Gosselin v/as instituted governor of the new 
province ; and the larger portion of the enemy's force 
now set out on other enterprises. 

The first destination of the squadron proved to be 
Machias. There was here a fort mounting ten 24: 
pounders, and garrisoned at this time by about one 
hunch-ed men, including several of the militia, and the 
garrison which had a short time before escaped from 
Pobbinston. After landing the trooj^s at Bucks' Har- 
bor, the vessels ascended the river and opened a heavy 
fire on tlie fort, covering the advance of the land force, 
which was to make an attack in the rear. Finding 
they were hkely to be surrounded, the garrison des- 
troyed the guns, set the barracks on fire, and evacuated 
the fort. 

11. A few days later a party of the enemy were 
sent to Frankfort to secm*e whatever arms and mer 
chandise they could find. Before they got away, the 



18U rp^E BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT. 237 

garrison from Macliias reached tlie place and captured 
the whole of them. 

There ensued a great deal of smugglmg between 
the American and British lines, which were divided 
by the Penobscot, now under control of the enemy. 
The British wanted cattle and provision of all kinds 
for the troops, and our oak, pine and lumber to build 
vessels on the Bay of Fundy, or to transport across 
the sea ; while our people needed the clothing, sugar, 
molasses and utensils which merchantmen brouo-ht 
into Castine. Our custom-house officers watched the 
river as well as they could, yet great quantities of goods 
w^ere brought across, particularly in the winter when 
the river was frozen ; and many found their way even 
as far as Massachusetts. The British did not care how 
much the American government lost on imports ; so 
they took a five per cent toll on the goods, and let 
smuggling go on. Keutral vessels were constantly in 
the river, particularl}^ the Swedish ; but these honora- 
bly paid their dues at the custom-house. Such was 
the extent of trade on the river at this time that one 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars were said to have 
been secured at Hampden for duties in five weeks. 

12. On December 24:th, 1814, a treaty of peace 
between Great Britain and the United States was 
signed at Ghent ; but before the nev/s had reached 
this country General Jackson liad won his famous vic- 
tory at New Orleans. After this there were no further 
depredations in Maine, and most of the points they 
liad held were soon deserted by the enemy — Castine 
being retained till the last. 

During its occupation by the British, Castine was 
the center of considerable business ; of which, how- 
ever, the larger part fell into British or Tory hands. 
It was also a place of much gayety and amusement; 
for, beside the balls, a theatre was maintained through 
tlie winter by the officers — many of whom were men 
of culture and courtesy. The British evacuated tlie 



238 HISTORY OF MAINE. l^^"* 

city in April, having held possession for eight months 
— during which time the inhabitants had sutfered much 
inconvenience and oppression; and the restoration of 
their liberty and property was celebrated with thanks- 
giving and festivity. 

How many nations have lield possession of Castine ? By whom 
was it captured in 1814 ? Wliat successful war vessel lay at Hamp- 
den ? About bow many troops were in the engagement at this 
place ? What amount of spoil did the British obtain ? What was 
done at Bangor ? What was done on the Kennebec ? What terri- 
tory did the British claim ? What happened at Machias ? What 
can you state of commerce on the Penobscot at this period ? 
What treaty was signed just before Jackson's victory at New 
Orleans ? 



CHAPTER XXX. 

1. When the war was over there was soon found 
to be a great increase of profanity, Sabbath-breaking, 
and intemperance. Thoughtful people were shocked 
at its extent, and the safety and comfort of the com- 
munity were seriously diminished. It was chiefly the 
dismissal of the mihtia from active service in the Dis- 
trict, and the return of the soldiers from the national 
army, which had produced this dangerous and disa- 
greeable condition of morals ; for men are often made 
dissolute by the idle life of camps, especially when 
discipline is loose and intoxicating Uquors freely dis- 
pensed. 

This state of society stimulated the religious associa- 
tions to more earnest effort for the good of souls; 



1817 SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS. 239 

societies were formed to distribute the Holy Scrip- 
tures, and Sunday Schools were established for in- 
structing the children of ignorant, careless, or vicious 
parents, in the important truths of the Bible. On the 
part of the government, tlie General Court made a 
new law against the profanation of the Sabbath, and 
appointed a great number of tythingmen to enforce 
the law and secure a decent behaviour on that sacred 
day. 

2. Other misfortunes came with the close of the 
war. Manufacturing being at that time done much 
cheaper in England than America, our stores soon 
became stocked with British goods ; and many of our 
factories, being unable to sell tlieir products, were 
obhged to stop — ^by which many people were thrown 
out of employment and much capital lost. People 
became restless, and many thought any other business 
or any other State was better than their own. 

Some of our citizens had already invested money in 
lands in Ohio, and liked there so well that they wished 
their friends to join them. The v/inter of 1816-17 
was unusually cold, the spring was backward — and the 
season was so unproductive that this year was long after 
familiarly known as "eighteen hundred and starve 
to death". All classes, particularly farmers and me- 
chanics, became much discouraged. Then the friends 
of the Ohio people who had lands to sell told attrac- 
tive stories of the mild climate and rich soils of Ohio 
and Kentucky; and the ''Oluo fever" set in with vio- 
lence. It is behoved that from ten to fifteen thousand 
people emigrated from Maine to those States — many 
selling their property at a great loss. But the very 
next year some of the emigrants returned with the 
other side of the story; and it is reckoned that after 
this the number that emigrated scarcely equalled 
those who returned. The tide of business, also, had 
turned; and in a few years the State again became 
prosperous. 



240 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^^lO 

3. Maine possessed many attractions in its soil, 
mill sites, forests and fisheries; accordingly we find 
that in 1820, the year of the separation, it had nine 
counties, and two hundred and thirty-six towns; while 
its population was 298,335 — an increase of nearly 
70,000 ^\dthin the last ten years. Business was flour- 
ishing; and with such a population and so many 
towns and counties, it is not strange that the District 
aspired to become a State. This measure had been 
agitated as early as 1785; and several conventions 
had been held in its interest — one at Brunswick in 
1816 fell but httle short of accomplishing its object. 
In 1819, instead of one newspaper, as at the first at- 
tempt, there were six, three of which favored separa- 
tion from Massachusetts, while the other three opposed. 
At last seventy towns joined in a petition to the Gen- 
eral Court ; and, this time, a bill favoring the measure 
was passed by a handsome majority. Its conditions 
were that all the public lands and buildings in Maine, 
except such as were the property of the United States, 
should be equally divided between the proposed State 
and Massachusetts. Maine was also to have her pro- 
portion of the military stock, and one-thii'd of all 
monies which might be reimbursed by the general gov- 
ernment for war expenses. 

4. On the fourth Monday in July, 1819, the citi- 
zens of the District of Maine voted on this question: — 
"Is it expedient that the District shall become a sepa- 
rate and independent State, upon the terms and con- 
ditions provided in an act relating to the separation 
of the District of Maine from Massachusetts proper, 
and forming the same into a separate and independent 
State ?" On counting the votes, above two -thirds 
were found to be in favor of separation; therefore 
delegates from the towns met at the court-house in 
Portland, and adopted a constitution ; appointing the 
first Monday in December as the day for the towns to 
vote for or against the constitution. On the first 



1820 SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS. 241 

AYednesday of January, 1820, tlie delegates again 
met; and, finding the constitution to have been adopt- 
ed, made appHcation to Congress for admission into 
the Union. 

5. But now an unexpected obstacle came in the 
Avay of our independence. This obstacle was slavery 
— but not slavery in Maine. ^ The territory of Mis- 
souri had apphecl for admittance at the same time ; 
and, having many slaves, she wished to get in without 
any conditions ogahist slavery. So the supporters of 
that institution, with characteristic craftiness, coupled 
the Territory and the District, and brought them be- 
fore Congress in the same bill, that each might share 
the other's fate. Many weeks passed, but still this 
clog upon Maine lield her back, so that she could not 
take her place in the sisterhood of States. The act 
severing the connection of the District from Massa- 
chusetts was to go into eifect on the fifteenth of 
March ; after which time, unless admitted previously, 
Maine would be simply a territory. The first of 
March had come, and still the slave power clung to 
her in close embrace. At length the friends of the 
District succeeded in divorcing the two applicants; 
and on the third of March the District became the 
twenty-second State of the Union. 

6. The election for State ofiicers was held for the 
first time on the first Monday of April, 1820; and on 
the last "Wednesday of May the new senators and rep- 
resentatives met at Portland. On counting the votes 
for governor it was found that General William King 
of Bath was elected without opposition. 

Mr. Kin<v was born in Scarborou2:h in 1768. Kot hav- 
ing been favored with a liberal education, on reaching 
the years of manhood he engaged in a saw mill in Tops- 
ham. Being prosperous he was able a few years later in 
connection with his brother-in-law to open a store in the 
same town. He afterward removed to Bath, where he 
resided until his death. He was the most prominent 



242 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1821 



\ 

_ ■ I 

1 



GOVEKNOK WILLIAM KING. 

of our citizens in bringing about the separation of the 
District from Massachusetts ; and, as we have abeady 
seen, was thought altogether the most suitable person 
for governor. Indeed, he has sinoe often been spoken 
of as "the first and best of our governors." In 1821, 
before the close of his first term, he resigned the oflice; 
having been appointed one of the commissioners of 
the general government on the Spanish claims; and 
the president of the Senate, Wilham D. Wilhamson, 
afterward the author of a valuable history of the State, 
became acting governor for the remainder of the term. 
7. Among the first acts of the first session of the 
Legislature, was the adoption of a State seal. The 
moose and the mast pine, those princes of the forest, 
were chosen for the central fissures of the desis-n. At 
one side was an anchor, on the other a scythe, emble- 
matic of the occupations of our people; while above 
was the North Star, signifying the place of Maine in 
the constellation of States. These, with the motto, 



1821 SEPAEATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS. 243 

Dirigo (I lead), and two figures representing a farmer 
and a sailor, form the seal now in use by our State 
government. There was also an act for the improve- 
ment of public schools, another for the incorporation 
of religious societies, and one for the regulation of 
lotteries; for the latter had already been found to 
work much harm. A charter was also granted for a 
second college in Maine, to be called Waterville Col- 
lege — now changed to Colby University. It had 
first been started in 1813, under the name of "Maine 
Literary and Theological School". The General 
Court of Massachusetts quite unw^illingly gave it a 
township (now the towns of Alton and Argjde) on the 
west side of the Penobscot River, fifteen miles above 
Bangor ; enacting that the institution should be located 
within the township. This seemed very unfair; for it 
was even beyond the limits of the common school — 
where bears and wolves were much plentier than boys 
and girls. It was a Baptist institution; and one of 
its presidents has well compared it, during that strug- 
gling period, to "the voice of one crying in the wil- 
derness." 

8. The Congregationalists and Baptists now had 
each a literary institution and theological school; and 
in the year 1825 the Methodists established at Read- 
field a classical and theological school, under the name 
of "Maine Wesleyan Seminary". A theological semi- 
nary of the Congregationahsts had been established in 
Bangor in 1814, under the name of "Maine Charity 
School"; and this is still the only exclusively theo- 
logical school in the State. . 

At the time of the separation there were ah-eady 
nine religious denominations in Maine — the Roman 
Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congrega- 
tionalists, Baptists, Methodists, Friends, IJniversalists, 
and Shakers. The sound of the church bell was as 
yet heard in but two or three towns ; while organs in 
religious worship, and pianos at home had not ceased 



244 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^20 

to be wonders in tlie largest cities of the land. Yet 
we had at this time within our own borders, twelve 
missionary and education societies, nine Bible socie- 
ties, nine charitable societies, a Grand Chapter of Ma- 
sons, four Arch Chapters and thirty-three Lodges. 
The first Masonic Lodge in Maine was instituted in 
Portland in the year 1769; and the Grand Lodge of 
Maine was established at the same place during the 
first session of our State Legislature. 

9. There were also in the State at this time 1,768 
mechanical workshops, a great number of sliipyards, 
248 tanneries, 85 potash works, 521 gristmills, 746 
sawmills, 210 carding machines, 149 fulling mills, and 
17 spinning machines. Passing from the trades to 
cattle, we find that Maine had 17,849 horses, 48,224 
horned cattle, and 66,639 swine. 

AVhen one has a horse now-a-days he has usually a 
carriage of two or four wheels, either open or covered, 
for pleasure riding; but some may be surprised to 
learn that before the Pevolution there was not a four- 
wheeled passenger carriage in Maine. Two-wheeled 
chaises came into use in Portland in 1760, but they 
were kept by their owners lilvc the Sunday dress, to 
be displayed only on gala-days. The first four-wheeled 
carriage ever seen in Augusta was built about the 
year 1800; while in 1798 two two-wheeled chaises 
were the first and only pleasure vehicles in that town. 

10. Men and women made their journeys on horse- 
back; and pillions for ladies' seats, and horse-blocks 
to aid them in mounting, were very common objects. 
On a Sunday morning the road to church must have 
presented a lively scene, with the groups and scattered 
files of foot people among the prancing steeds^ bestrode 
by husband, father or brother, while about his waist 
twined the arm of fair maiden or stately dame, who 
sat on the pillion behind him. The people of that 
day minded little the few miles between them and the 
meeting or the market ; and there are ladies still living 



1823 SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS. 245 

who could tell wonder-waking stories of tlieir ex- 
ploits of travel. It was thought a great enterprise 
when, in 1787, a coach was put upon the line between 
Portland and Portsmouth, for conveying the mails 
and for the accommodation of travelers. In 1806 the 
line was extended to Augusta, and in 1810 to Farm- 
ington. The western stage in the latter year started 
from Ausrusta earlv enouo-h in the mornino; for the 
passengers to breakfast at Brunswick, dine at Free- 
port, and lodge at Portland. The next day their 
breakfast was taken at Kennebunk, dinner at Ports- 
mouth, and their lodging at Newburyport. At two 
o'clock in the morning they started again; reaching 
Salem at daylight, and getting" into Boston before 
noon. Mail routes and stages were from this time 
rapidly extended over the State ; and with them coun- 
try taverns multipHed and flourished exceedingly. 

11. In July, 1823, a great event happened at Port- 
land ; nothing less than the arrival in the harbor of 
the first steamboat ever brought to Maine. This was 
the Patent, a vessel of about one hundred tons bur- 
then, owned by Captain Seward Porter, of Portland, 
who had bought her in ^N'ew York to run as a passen- 
ger boat between Portland and Boston. Captain 
Porter had in 1822 placed an old engine in a flat 
bottom boat, which he ran to North Yarmouth and 
the islands of Casco Bay. This he named "Kenne- 
bec," but the people called it the "Horned Hog." In 
August, 1823, the "Kennebec Steam Navigation Com- 
pany" was formed. This company bought the Patent, 
and also built at Bath a httlq vessel called the Water- 
ville, which commenced running on the river in April, 
1824. The next year the Maine, of about one hun(h*ed 
and five tons, was fitted out at Bath by the same com- 
pany. It ran between Bath and Eastport, calhng at 
Belfast and Castine. The steamer Eagle, a British 
boat, was running between Eastport and St. John; 
thus completing a coast line of steamers from the Bay 



246 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1825 

of Fundy to tlie Gulf of Mexico. In 1825 the Water- 
ville had the honor of conveying the nation's guest, 
the noble Lafayette, who at that tinie made a brief visit 
to Augusta. These boats in the course of a few years 
were succeeded by various others, built at home or pur- 
chased abroad ; and among the latter, in 1833, came 
the Chancellor Livingston, built under the direction 
of Robert Fulton, the father of steam navigation. 

What caused a depression in business soon after the close of the 
war? Whither did many of the people of Maine emigrate? 
What was the population of Maine in 1820 ? For what did our 
people vote in 1819 ? What delayed the admission of Maine into 
the Union ? When did the admission take place ? Who was 
elected first governor? What college was chartered by the first 
legislature ? IState what religious societies and other organizations 
existed in Maine at this time. At what date were mail coaches 
first used in this State? What happened in Portland in 1823? 
What distinguished foreigner visited Maine in 1825 ? 



1827 AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION. ' 247 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

1. Albion K. Parris, elected second governor of 
Maine, took his seat at the opening of the year 1822. 
He was a native of Hebron, in this State, where he 
worked on his father's farm until he was fourteen years 
of age. A year later he entered Harvard College, 
and graduated in due course. In 1809. he was admit- 
ted to the bar, commencing practice at Paris, in Oxford 
county. At the age of twenty-eight he was elected 
Representative in Congress, at thirty he was appointed 
judge of the United States District Court, and was 
but thirty-three years old when he became governor; 
and he held the office for live consecutive years. The 
attainment of such high honors at so early an age is 
unusual. In looking for the cause of his popularity 
w^e find that he was without brilliant talents ; and that 
the secret of his success lay in his industry and clos.e 
attention to the duties of every office confided to him — 
in his promptness, fidelity, sagacity, and his uniformly 
courteous manners. 

2. Governor Parris was, in 1827, succeeded by 
Enoch Lincoln ; who had also been his successor in 
legal practice at Paris, and as representative in Con- 
gress. Mr. Lincoln was a popular and upright chief 
magistrate ; and his messages and other communica- 
tions were noted for their suggestiveness, point, brevity 
and good taste. He died near the close of his third 
term, being the only one of our governors who has 
died in that office. 

In the term of his successor, Jonathan G. Hunton, 
of Peadfield, was opened the only considerable canal 
in the State, by which Sebago pond was connected 
with Casco Bay. In 1831 Samuel E. Smith, of Wis- 



248 niSTOET OF MAINE. 1827 

casset, assumed the gubernatorial chair, to which he 
was annually re-elected until ISS-i. 

3. The matter of our northern boundary had 
attracted the attention of the State government very 
soon after the separation ; and during the term of 
Governor Lincoln Maine took the stand wliich she 
afterward maintained upon the question. The United 
States and Great Britain, being unable to agree as 
to the location of the boundary line described in the 
treaty of 1783, at length referred the matter to the 
king of the Netherlands; v/ho, in 1831, rendered 
his award. But instead of determining what, by a 
fair construction of the treat}^, was the true boundary 
line — which y^'ds the question submitted — he declared 
that the line ought to extend north from the source of 
the St. Croix river, to the middle of the channel of 
the St. John's, thence to the St. Francis, at the extreme 
north, and througli the middle of that river to the 
source of its southwest branch. This was a smgular 
departure from the plain language of the treaty, which 
as my readers will have observed, placed the line upon 
a rid2:e of his^hlands — not in the bed of a river : and 
the decision of the umpire, of course, made the people 
of Maine very indignant. Yet this l)oundary certainly 
had the advantao-e of beins; more definite than that of 
the treaty. Tlien followed a lengthy correspondence 
upon the question between Governor Smith and the 
authorities at Washington ; and the latter, being desir- 
ous of accepting the award, offered to reimburse the 
State by money or land equivalent to the territory 
lost. But the Madawaska settlements had at this time 
a representative in the legislature ; and Maine took 
the ground that she could not in honor relegate her 
inhabitants to Great Britain; therefore the award Avas 
repudiated. 

4. Another event of importance during Governor 
Smith's term was the removal of the seat of govern- 
ment from Portland to Augusta. The legislature held 



1837 AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION. 249 

its first session in the State House in 1832. The build 
ing and furniture had cost ahttlemore than $125,000 ; 
about half of which was paid by the proceeds from the 
sale of ten townships of land. The architect w^as 
Charles Bulfinch of Boston ; and the external design 
was a reduced plan of St. Peter's Church, at Eome. 
Few who approach the capitol fail to perceive its ele- 
gance ; and, although not faultless, it is certainly a 
noble specimen of architecture. Constructed of the 
beautiful granite of the neighborhood, its massive 
foundation seems but a part of the fine eminence upon 
wdnch it rests ; and the great Doric pillars of the 
front, each a solid shaft of the same fair stone, can 
hardly fail to give an impression of grandeur. 

In 1834, Eobert P. Dunlap of Brunswick suc- 
ceeded to the chief magistracy; and, by re-elections, 
held that position for four years. The chief measures 
for the benefit of the State during his term were the 
foundation of an asylum for the insane, and our first 
scientific survey. 

5. In the month of June, 1837, an ofiicer of Maine, 
while taking a census of the Madawaska settlements, 
was arrested by order of the governor of the British 
provinces, and conveyed to Fredericton on a charge of 
exciting sedition. These settlements were on the St. 
John's river, at the. extreme north-eastern part of the 
State, and within the limits of the treaty of 1783 — by 
which Great Britain acknowdedged our independence. 
The officer had acted with entire propriety ; and the 
British authorities simply meant to show that Maine 
would no longer l)e permitted to exercise authority in 
this region. The claim of that government extended 
southward nearly to the forty-sixth parallel of latitude ; 
which, if allowed, would rob Maine of about one-third 
of her territory. Governor Dunlap immediately issued 
a general order declarmg the State to be invaded by 
a foreign power, and notifying the militia to hold them- 
selves in readiness for mihtary service. But as no 



250 HISTORY OF MAINE. ^837 

other act of hostility occurred, and the officer was 
released on parole, further hostile acts were, for the 
present, averted. Some attempts at revolt against 
British rule had already occurred in Lower Canada, 
and all through the season independent bands com- 
posed of Americans and outlawed Canadians hung 
about the great lakes; and in some disturbances at 
Navy Island in Niagara River, the American steam- 
er CaroKne was burned by the British, and a num- 
ber of persons killed, among whom was one or 
more American citizens. This also occasioned some 
altercation between the governments; and there was 
good reason to apprehend another war from the boun- 
dary disputes and these repeated breaches of the 
peace. In the autumn of this year, therefore, the na- 
tional government completed the military road in 
north-eastern Maine, making a continuous line from 
Bangor to the Madawaska settlements, in readiness 
for possible events. 

6. In the term of Governor Dunlap also occurred 
the first conflict of Maine with the slave power. It 
was caused by the escape of two slaves from the State 
of Georgia in a Maine vessel. The governor of that 
State sent a requisition upon the executive of Maine 
for the master of the vessel; but, as it appeared that 
the negroes had concealed themselves on board un- 
known to the captain, Governor Dunlap refused the 
requisition. In 1838 Edward Kent of Bangor suc- 
ceeded Mr. Dunlap as governor. He, also, refused to 
yield up the shipmaster ; therefore Georgia, in retalia- 
tion, put all Maine vessels visiting her ports under 
peculiar restrictions, contrary to the constitution of 
the United States. 

Another event connected with national politics in 
Avhich Maine was deeply concerned, also occurred in 
the term of Governor Kent. This was the death of 
our representative in Congress from the Lincoln dis- 
trict, Hon. Jonathan Cilley, in a duel with Mr. Graves, 



1838 AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION. 251 

a member of the House of Kepresentatives from 
Kentucky. There was no personal enmity between 
the two men ; but some words used by Mr. Cilley in 
debate reflected upon the editor of a New York politi- 
cal journal, a friend of Mr. Graves, Avho espoused his 
cause. Mr. Cilley reluctantly accepted his challenge; 
and they fought with rifles at a distance of seventy 
yards. Three times the men had fired at each other 
without effect, when Cilley's friends endeavored to 
reconcile the combatants; but the seconds of Graves 
repulsed all efforts for a bloodless settlement, and the 
conflict was resumed. Cilley fell at the next fire, and 
expired instantly. 

7. This duel was remembered in Maine with much 
bitterness. The principal blame fell upon the political 
friends of Graves; but the latter soon retired from 
Congress, and years after was reported to be still a 
very unhappy man. 

In home affairs this year the events of note were 
the formation of FrankHn and Piscataquis counties, 
and the completion of the first scientific survey, begun 
in 1836. A large portion of the work in the Aroos- 
took region was done in the first year by Dr. Ezekiel 
Holmes, under the direction of the governor, with 
special reference to the boundary claims. Dr. Holmes 
was a great benefactor of the agricultural interests 
of the State, in the promotion of which he had already 
made his infiuence felt. The survey in other parts 
was in charge of Dr. Charles T. Jackson of Massa- 
chusetts ; who, with his assistants, visited nearly every 
river and mountain in the State. Attention was thus 
called to our valuable mines of ore and quarries of 
limestone and slate; and a cabinet of 1600 mineral 
and geological specimens was collected, which is now 
to be seen in the State House at Augusta. 

Wliat important question began to occupy the attention of Maine 
soon after the separation ? To whom was this question referred 



252 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^39 

for decision ? Was the award accepted or rejected? In what 
year was the seat of government removed to Augusta? Where 
are the Madawaska settlements ? How far south did the British 
claim possession of Maine? What disturbances happened in 1837 ? 
What difficulty occurred between Maine and Georgia ? What con- 
gressman from this State fell in a duel ? In what year did the first 
scientific survey of Maine begin ? 



CHAPTEK XXXII. 

1. In 1839 Mr. Kent was succeeded as governor 
by John Fairfield, of Saco. Scarcely had the latter 
taken his seat when hostilities began in Aroostook 
between intruders from the British Provinces and the 
civil authorities of Maine. Early in February a dep- 
uty of the land agent reported to the governor that a. 
large number of lumbermen from New Brunswick 
were engaged in robbing the disputed territory of its 
best timber; whereupon Sheriff Strickland, of Penob- 
scot county, was ordered to aid Land Agent Mclntire 
in dislodging the trespassers. With a posse of about 
two hundred men the officers proceeded to the Aroos- 
took for this purpose. The trespassers, having got 
news of this movement, supplied themselves witli arms 
from the Province arsenal at Woodstock, and prepared 
to maintain their ground. Tliere were near three 
hundred of them ; but when they found the sheriff had 
a six pound cannon, they concluded to retire. The 
land agent followed them down the river, capturing 
about twenty men, who had been at work further up 
the stream. The posse encamped for the night on 
the Aroostook River at the mouth of the Little Mada- 



1839 Tjjj, AROOSTOOK WAR. 253 

waska, while Land Agent Mclntire, with four com- 
panions, repaired to a house about four miles down 
the river, under an appointment to meet Mr. Mc- 
Laughlin, the warden of the British in the disputed 
territory. The trespassers somehow learned the situa- 
tion of the land agent; and during the night about 
forty of them made a descent upon his lodgings, and 
made him and his company prisoners. They were tak- 
en on an ox-sled to Woodstock, where they were turned 
over to the civil authorities, who conveyed them to 
Fredericton jail. Early the next morning the sheriff's 
force learned of this capture, and at once retired to 
Number Ten, wdiere they fortified themselves in ex- 
pectation of an attack. But the sheriff himself started 
for Augusta as fast as relays of galloping horses would 
carry him. Lie reached Bangor the next day, having 
accomplished within the time the surprising distance 
of above one hundred and twenty miles. 

2. Governor Harvey of New Brunswick now issued 
a proclamation ordering the arms wdiich had been ille- 
gally taken from the arsenal to be restored; and de- 
claring that hostile invasion would be repelled by the 
civil authority. He also ordered a draft from the 
militia for immediate service. When the new^s of 
these events reached Augusta, the people began to see 
that the matter w^as growing serious, though at first it 
had been made a subject of ridicule; and on Sunday 
a company of fifty volunteers set out from that place 
for the scene of conflict. A messenger v>^as sent by 
the governor to Washington; and 1,000 men of the 
Eastern Division of the militia were ordered out. Tliat 
night a message was received from Governor Harvey 
demanding the recall of the State forces from the 
Aroostook, and announcing that he was instructed by 
his government to hold exclusive jurisdiction over the 
territory in dispute, and that he should do so by mili- 
tary force. On Monday these facts were laid before 
the legislature, wdiich immediately passed a resolve to 



254 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1839 

protect the public lands, and appropriated $800,000 
to carry it into ciFect. The next day the governor 
ordered a draft of 10,000 men from the militia, to be 
held in immediate readiness for service. 

3. Meanwhile New Brunswick was marshalling her 
forces, and our own were sent forward as rapidly as 
possible. Our chief towns were tilled with the sounds 
of war from the passage of troops, or the repair of 
decayed defenses. Early in March the national house 
of representatives passed a bill justifying the action 
of Maine in repelling the invasion of her soil. They 
also authorized the president, in case the governor of 
New Brunswick proceeded to carry out his threat of 
maintaining exclusive jurisdiction, to raise 50,000 vol- 
unteers for a term of six months — appropriating $10,- 
000,000 to defray the expense. On the 6th of March 
General Scott with his staif arrived at Augusta, an- 
nouncing that he was " specially charged with main- 
tainmg the peace and safety of the entire northern and 
eastern frontiers." 

Our troops were now well on their way toward the 
Aroostook. The sheriff's force, having been increased 
by volunteers from Bangor and other towns to the 
number of about 600, again moved down the river. 
They captured a number of ox-teams, their drivers, 
and McLaughlin, the British land warden; but so 
little opposition was discovered that it was concluded 
that, for the present, the British had abandoned the 
river. 

4. Immediately on his arrival General Scott open- 
ed negotiations with Sir John Harvey of New Bruns- 
wick, and Governor Fairfield of Maine ; and presently 
the former gentleman was led to declare that, under 
expectation of the peaceful settlement of the question 
between the two nations, it was not his intention, 
without renewed instructions, to take mihtary posses- 
sion of the territory, or seek to expel therefrom the 
civil posse or the troops of Maine; while Governor 



1839 THE AROOSTOOK WAR. 255 

Fairfield was, in turn, invited to declare that he should 
not, without renewed instructions from the legislature, 
attempt by armed force to disturb the Province in its 
possession of the Madawaska settlements, or to inter- 
rupt the usual communication between New Bruns- 
wick and Canada ; and that the troops should be with- 
drawn, leaving only a civil posse to protect the timber 
from further depredations. Presently the prisoners 
on both sides w^ere set at liberty; and hi a few weeks 
the troops were dismissed and returned to their homes 
rejoicing. Thus ended the bloodless Aroostook war. 
The promptness with which our forces were put upon 
the ground gave us an advantage in the situation, 
which, no doubt, had much influence in the negotiation 
by which the peaceful arrangement of the difficulty 
w^as so easily brought about. General Scott soon de- 
parted; and for a long time after the good people of 
Maine humorously styled him the "Great Pacificator." 
The Aroostook region, being now freed from inva- 
ders, was in March erected into a county, having been 
previously included in Penobscot and Washington. 

5. Two years passed away, and still the boundary 
of the State remained unsettled, though the question 
continued to be discussed by the two governments. 
On the accession of Wilham Henry Harrison to the pre- 
sidenc}^, in 1841, Daniel Webster became his Secretary 
of State. The boundary question and its connected 
disturbances had now come to a crisis ; and the new sec- 
retary took hold of the question with vigor. A month 
after his inauguration President Harrison died, and 
was succeeded by the Vice-President, John Tyler. 
Yet it was thought of so much importance that the 
matter should be brought to a conclusion by Mr. 
Webster that, though differing in politics with Mr. 
Tyler, he still continued to fill the office of secretary. 

In the spring of 1842 arrived the new minister from 
England, Lord Ashburton, accredited with powers to 
form a new treaty in settlement of the boundary diffi- 



256 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^42 

cnlties. An extra session of tlie legislature of Maine 
was called on the 18tli of May, for the purpose of 
choosing commissioners to confer with Lord Ashbur- 
ton and Secretary Webster upon this subject. On 
the 22d of July the commissioners sent in their ad- 
hesion to the line agreed upon between the Minister 
and Secretary. As in the award of the king of the 
Netherlands, this line extended north from the source 
of the St. Croix Kiver to the St. John's, and along 
the middle of this river to the St. Francis at the ex- 
treme north, and through the middle of that river to 
the source of its southwest branch. From this point, 
instead of following the highlands which divide the 
waters falling into the St. Lawrence from those empty- 
ing into the Atlantic ocean, it went in a straight line 
southwesterly, with but one angle, to the southwestern 
branch of tlie Kiver St. John, whence it continued in 
an irregular line between the waters, as in the former 
treaty. We were also secured in the free navigation 
of the St. John's tlirou£:liout its len2i;th. 

6. By the change in the boundary we lost a con- 
siderable tract; a large portion of this, however, was 
of little value to us either from its position or the 
quality of its soil. The inhabitants on the north of 
the St. John's had for some years ceased to send any 
representative to the legislature of Maine; conse- 
quently our government felt little hesitation in yield- 
ing these settlers to the government of their choice. 
For the territory siu-rendered from Maine, the United 
States received tracts of much greater value to the 
nation on Lakes Champlain and Superior. To recom- 
pense Maine for this loss of territory, she received from 
the general government $150,000; Massachusetts also 
receiving the like sum, as she was still the owner, by 
agreement at the separation, of one half the public 
lands in Maine. Maine also received $200,000 to 
reimburse her expenses in the boundary disturbances. 
This treaty was ratified by the Senate of the United 



1842 SETTLEMENT OF BOUNDARIES. 257 

States on the 20th of August, 1842, and the exact 
limits of Maine were thereby definitely and finally 
settled. 

7. In 1841 Edward Kent again occupied the guber 
natorial chair; but in 1842 he was for the second time 
succeeded by Governor Fairfield; who thus has the 
honor of having guided the State through the most 
critical period of her history. 

With these events closes the formative period of 
our State; all disputed questions between her and 
other states Avere put to rest; the form of her po- 
litical organization had been decided; and she was 
now free to pursue plans for the development of the 
wealth contained in her soil, the utilization of her im- 
mense water power, and the extension of her com- 
merce. 

Within half a dozen years preceding 1842 we 
may note, also, the first stirrings of those important 
movements whose beneficial character have since been 
realized in our state and nation. During the term 
of Governor Dunlap the suljject of humane institu- 
tions was urged, especially the establishment of an 
insane asylum; in 1836 our first scientific survey was 
begun, and our first railroad charter granted — the first 
railroad built in the State being the Portsmouth, Saco 
and Portland road, opened in 1842; in 1837 occurred 
our only special conflict with slavery; while in 1841 
was commenced that energetic and beneficent move- 
ment against the use of intoxicating liquors, which at 
length culminated in the prohibitory laws. 

8. The abuse of spirits had at that time become so 
great that its eftects were everywhere traceable in ruin- 
ous dwellings and ruined families, in drunken farmers 
and neglected farms, in the coarse manners, and the pre- 
valence of vice in all classes of society. The reform be- 
gan by the introduction of Washingtonian Temperance 
Societies, whose leading principle was the association 
of the reformed for mutual aid against the besetting sin. 



258 HISTORY OF MAINE. 1^42 

The societies spread rapidly eastward, even into the 
British Provinces. Multitudes were enrolled on the 
pledges, hundreds were rescued from the besotting 
vice, and thousands prevented from falHng into evil 
habits. 

During the years 1836-7-8 there had been much 
depression of business ; but it had gradually revived ; 
and we take leave of the State at a period of prosperity 
and promise. Her later history is within the recol- 
lection of people in middle age ; and the young folks 
for whom this book has been written will iind it an 
interesting and useful task, from the recital of their 
parents, to frame a history for themselves. 

What disturbances occurred in Aroostook in 1839 ? AV'hat mes- 
sage did Sir Jolin Harvey send to the governor of Maine ? "What 
captures were made by each party ? What was the action of Con- 
gress on this matter ? What was the mission of General Scott ? 
What was its result ? By what treaty and in what year was our 
boundary finally settled ? Give the boundaries as defined by this 
treaty. What compensations did Maine receive ? Who was gov- 
ernor of Maine at the time of the disturbances and of the treaty ? 
Of what period in our history do these events mark the close ? 
What beneficent social movement began in this State in IS-tl ? 



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